Press Release:
JOEL Z. MELNICK, MD JOINS CYTOCHROMA
AS VICE PRESIDENT, CLINICAL & REGULATORY AFFAIRS
Markham, Ontario, Canada — August 13, 2007 — Cytochroma
Inc. announced today that Joel Z. Melnick, MD has joined Cytochroma’s
management team as Vice President, Clinical & Regulatory
Affairs. Dr. Melnick will be responsible for managing the clinical
development of Cytochroma’s new Vitamin D therapies and
for obtaining marketing approvals from the United States Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) and Canada’s Therapeutic
Products Directorate (TPD).
Dr. Melnick was previously Senior
Medical Director in the Global Pharmaceutical Research and
Development Group at Abbott Laboratories (North Chicago, IL).
There, he managed clinical trials, regulatory submissions,
marketing approvals and post-launch support for Zemplar® (paricalcitol) Capsules and Injection,
currently one of the world’s leading Vitamin D hormone
replacement therapies for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT)
in chronic kidney disease (CKD).
“We are delighted to announce the
hiring of Dr. Melnick,” said
Charles W. Bishop, PhD, President and CEO. “He will
greatly boost our ability to rapidly develop and launch products
targeting CKD patients. We expect, through Dr. Melnick’s
leadership and proven expertise, to submit New Drug Applications
to the FDA for three new Vitamin D products within the next
two years.”
Dr. Melnick completed his medical degree,
internship, and residency in internal medicine and pediatrics
at Creighton University, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship
in pediatric and adult nephrology at the University of Texas
Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Melnick subsequently served
as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University,
where he conducted research in metabolism and cardio-renal
disease.
“Cytochroma has built a deep product
pipeline targeting CKD, interactively working with the many
leading experts on Vitamin D therapeutics and nephrology
who comprise its Scientific Advisory Board. I look forward
to working with such prominent and talented key opinion leaders,” stated Dr. Melnick.
“With the addition of Dr. Melnick,
Cytochroma has significantly increased the breadth and depth
of its in-house Vitamin D product development expertise.” stated Alan J. Lewis, PhD, Chairman
of the Board. “Cytochroma now counts among the senior
management team the key individuals responsible for developing
and commercializing Hectorol® and Zemplar®, two products
which dominate the $600+ million market for Vitamin D hormone
replacement therapies in North America.”
About
Cytochroma
Cytochroma (www.cytochroma.com)
is a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the development
and commercialization of proprietary products to treat and
prevent the clinical consequences of Vitamin D insufficiency.
The Company has an advanced portfolio of new therapies for
Vitamin D insufficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism associated
with CKD. In
addition, the Company is developing novel therapies to treat
hyperproliferative disorders, such as cancer and psoriasis,
and hyperphosphatemia.
For information
contact:
Eric J. Messner
Vice President
Commercial
Operations
905-479-5306 ext.
338
eric.messner@cytochroma.com
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