Press Release:
CYTOCHROMA ACQUIRES PROVENTIV THERAPEUTICS
TO COMMERCIALIZE NEW VITAMIN D PRODUCTS FOR CKD MARKET.
June 29, 2006 – Cytochroma Inc. of Markham, Ontario,
Canada announced today that it has acquired Proventiv Therapeutics
LLC of Madison, Wisconsin, USA. The acquisition expands Cytochroma’s
broad vitamin D product portfolio and uniquely positions
the company to exploit current and future opportunities in
chronic kidney disease (CKD), psoriasis, cancer, vitamin
D deficiency and related disorders. The acquisition also
establishes a Cytochroma United States base of operations
in Madison, Wisconsin. The combined company now has multiple
lead candidates in clinical development for psoriasis and
entering clinical development for vitamin D deficiency and
secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with moderate to
severe CKD.
The acquisition also brings an experienced executive team
with a proven track record of success in vitamin D product
commercialization in North America. This team is headed by
Charles W. Bishop, PhD who has assumed the position of President
and CEO of Cytochroma, replacing outgoing James M. Rae. Two
other members of this team, Keith H. Crawford, MBA and Eric
J. Messner, MBA, have assumed roles as Vice President, Strategic
Planning and Vice President, Commercial Operations, respectively.
Coincident with these changes, Jay A. White, PhD has been
appointed to Vice President, Product Development. Dr. White
was formerly Vice President, Operations at Cytochroma. Martin
Petkovich, PhD and Jukka K. Karjalainen, MD, PhD will continue
in their present roles at Cytochroma as Chief Scientific
Officer and Vice President, Clinical Affairs, respectively.
“We are excited about combining these
exceptionally complementary organizations”, Dr. Bishop
remarked. “Together,
they have a greatly enhanced capability to rapidly develop
and commercialize new vitamin D therapies.”
Mr. Rae,
Cytochroma’s out-going CEO, stated, “Both
parties have leading edge products in the expanding vitamin
D sector. The acquisition of Proventiv and the leadership
of Dr. Bishop will ensure the realization of Cytochroma’s
value at the international level.”
About Vitamin D
Deficiency and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in CKD
According
to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), more than nine million
North American patients suffer from moderate
to severe CKD. Many develop vitamin D deficiency and
secondary hyperparathyroidism which, if untreated, can cause
debilitating
bone diseases and increased patient morbidity and mortality.
“Today, clinicians are unable to fully
meet the NKF’s
guidelines for treating and preventing vitamin D deficiency
and secondary hyperparathyroidism in CKD patients,” observed
Geoffrey A. Block, MD, Director of Research, Denver Nephrology
PC. Cytochroma’s newly expanded product portfolio,
when commercialized, will provide clinicians with additional
therapeutic tools to attain the NKF goals.”
About
Cytochroma
Cytochroma (www.cytochroma.com) is an integrated
specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the development
and
commercialization of proprietary products to treat
and prevent the clinical
consequences of diseases and disorders related to vitamin
D deficiency. The company has an advanced portfolio
of new products targeting vitamin D deficiency and secondary
hyperparathyroidism
in patients with moderate to severe chronic kidney
disease
and end-stage renal disease. In addition, the company
is developing novel vitamin D therapies to treat hyperproliferative
disorders such as cancer and psoriasis.
Cytochroma has
raised over $39 million Canadian to date in private funding.
Investors include VenGrowth
Advanced
Life
Sciences Fund Inc., GeneChem Technologies Venture
Fund L.P., Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund Inc., GrowthWorks
Canadian
Fund Ltd., BDC Capital Inc., Novo A/S, T2C2/Bio 2000
Limited Partnership, Venturelink Fund Inc., University
Medical
Discoveries, Inc., Caisse de Dépôt et
Placement du Québec.
For information
contact:
Eric J. Messner
Vice President
Commercial
Operations
905-479-5306 ext.
338
eric.messner@cytochroma.com
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