Brings 17 years oncology drug development experience in over 100 clinical trials in multiple tumor indications to role of CMO
LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun. 19, 2009--
Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. (NASDAQ: SNTA), a biopharmaceutical company
focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule
drugs to treat severe medical conditions, today announced that Vojo
Vukovic, M.D., Ph.D. has been appointed Senior Vice President and Chief
Medical Officer, Synta Pharmaceuticals. Prior to his appointment, Dr.
Vukovic was Vice President, Clinical Research at Synta, a position he
has held since January 2009. Eric Jacobson, M.D., recently announced his
resignation as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, and will
be leaving Synta after a brief transition period.
“Vojo’s experience in all stages of clinical development in a wide range
of cancer indications will be invaluable to Synta as we advance STA-9090
in the clinic and as we complete our analyses for elesclomol,” said Safi
Bahcall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Synta. “In
addition to his clinical experience, Vojo’s research background in tumor
biology will be an important advantage in advancing the translational
science aspects of each of our programs. Vojo has demonstrated strong
leadership working on our Hsp90 program to date, and I expect a smooth
transition in his new role.”
In addition to the on-going trials of STA-9090, Synta will be initiating
a second, once-weekly dosing Phase 2 trial in hematologic cancers in the
second half of the year, and expects to initiate several new Phase 2
clinical trials in solid tumors in 2009 and early 2010. More details
regarding these trials will be announced later this year. Trials of
elesclomol are currently on hold pending the completion of analyses of
the results of the Phase 3 SYMMETRY trial in metastatic melanoma.
Dr. Bahcall thanked Dr. Jacobson for his contributions to Synta over the
past four years. “Eric has been a strong leader for our clinical team
who has earned the respect and admiration of all of us at Synta as well
as the many clinicians with whom he has worked on a variety of clinical
trials in oncology and inflammatory disease. He will be missed by all of
us at Synta and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”
Dr. Vukovic joined Synta as Vice President, Clinical Research with 17
years experience in oncology drug development. Prior to Synta, he was
Global Medical Lead for Sutent® and axitinib in a number of cancer
indications at Pfizer. Prior to Pfizer, he served in key medical and
regulatory roles at Aventis Pasteur, Ortho Biotech, ILEX Oncology, and
BioNumerik Pharmaceuticals. Over the course of his career, Dr. Vukovic
has been responsible for over 100 Phase 1 to Phase 4 clinical studies in
cancer indications including melanoma, tumors of the lung, pancreas,
breast, colorectal, ovarian, brain, as well as NHL and certain
leukemias. Prior to his industry career, Dr. Vukovic was a post-doctoral
fellow at the Ontario Cancer Institute, Toronto in Ontario and Institute
for Cell Biology in Essen, Germany where he conducted basic and
translational research in solid tumor microenvironments and oxidative
stress.
About Synta Pharmaceuticals
Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on
discovering, developing, and commercializing small molecule drugs to
extend and enhance the lives of patients with severe medical conditions,
including cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases. Synta has a unique
chemical compound library, an integrated discovery engine, and a diverse
pipeline of clinical- and preclinical-stage drug candidates with
distinct mechanisms of action and novel chemical structures. All Synta
drug candidates were invented by Synta scientists using our compound
library and discovery capabilities. For more information, please visit www.syntapharma.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This media release may contain forward-looking statements about Synta
Pharmaceuticals Corp. Such forward-looking statements can be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "would",
"should", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes",
"may", "estimates", "predicts", "projects", or similar expressions
intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements,
including statements relating to the timing, developments and progress
of our clinical and preclinical programs, reflect our current views with
respect to future events and are based on assumptions and subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements, including those described in "Risk Factors" of our Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008 as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Synta undertakes no obligation to publicly update
forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Source: Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp.
Rob Kloppenburg, 781-541-7125