Aprea Therapeutics Appoints Fouad Namouni, M.D. and Richard Peters, M.D., Ph.D. to Board of Directors
June 29 2020 - 6:00AM
Aprea Therapeutics Inc., (NASDAQ: APRE), a clinical-stage
biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing
novel cancer therapeutics that reactivate mutant p53 tumor
suppressor protein, today announced the appointments of Fouad
Namouni, M.D. and Richard Peters, M.D., Ph.D. to its Board of
Directors. In addition, Guido Magni, M.D., Ph.D. will step down
from the Company’s Board of Directors, effective June 30, 2020.
Fouad Namouni, M.D., brings more than 20 years of oncology and
immuno-oncology drug development expertise, most recently serving
as Senior Vice President & Head of Oncology Development at
Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), with responsibility for driving product
development plans from early-stage clinical development through
commercialization. Prior to serving as Head of Oncology
Development, Dr. Namouni was Head of Medical Affairs at BMS and
prior to that position, he was Head of Development for Opdivo® and
Yervoy®, immunotherapy medications used in the treatment of cancer.
Dr. Namouni holds an M.D. degree from the University of Annaba
Medical School in Algeria, and a Pediatrics degree from Université
Rene Descartes in Paris, France. In addition, he received a
Pediatric Oncology and Hematology degree and M.S. in clinical and
experimental pharmacology from Université Paris-Sud in France.
Richard Peters, M.D., Ph.D, brings more than 25 years of
experience developing new therapies for difficult-to-treat
diseases. He currently serves as President, Chief Executive Officer
and Director at Yumanity Therapeutics Inc. Dr. Peters joined
Yumanity from Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where he was
President & Chief Executive Officer. Prior to Merrimack, he
served as Senior Vice President and Head, Global Rare Diseases at
Genzyme (Sanofi). Dr. Peters is a Harvard-trained physician and
scientist, has served on the faculty at the Massachusetts General
Hospital, and completed a Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Fellowship in biophysics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Peters
holds M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Medical University of South
Carolina.
“Both Drs. Namouni and Peters are distinguished industry leaders
with years of experience in advancing important new therapeutics to
patients in need,” said Christian S. Schade, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Aprea Therapeutics. “Their advice and counsel
will be invaluable as Aprea continues with its progress to advance
our mutant p53 reactivator oncology programs. We are thrilled to
welcome Fouad and Richard to the Aprea team and our Board of
Directors. Finally, on behalf of the Board of Directors and all
Aprea employees, we are grateful to Guido Magni for his years of
strategic insight and guidance throughout his tenure on Aprea’s
Board.”
About Aprea Therapeutics
Aprea Therapeutics Inc., (NASDAQ: APRE) is a biopharmaceutical
company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with research
facilities in Stockholm, Sweden, focused on developing and
commercializing novel cancer therapeutics that reactivate the
mutant tumor suppressor protein p53. The Company’s lead product
candidate is APR-246, a small molecule in clinical development for
hematologic malignancies, including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). For more information, please
visit the company website at www.aprea.com.
The Company may use, and intends to use, its investor relations
website at https://ir.aprea.com/ as a means of disclosing material
nonpublic information and for complying with its disclosure
obligations under Regulation FD.
About p53 and APR-246
The p53 tumor suppressor gene is the most frequently mutated
gene in human cancer, occurring in approximately 50% of all human
tumors. These mutations are often associated with resistance
to anti-cancer drugs and poor overall survival, representing a
major unmet medical need in the treatment of cancer.
APR-246 is a small molecule that has demonstrated reactivation
of mutant and inactivated p53 protein – by restoring wild-type p53
conformation and function – and thereby induce programmed cell
death in human cancer cells. Pre-clinical anti-tumor activity
has been observed with APR-246 in a wide variety of solid and
hematological cancers, including MDS, AML, and ovarian cancer,
among others. Additionally, strong synergy has been seen with
both traditional anti-cancer agents, such as chemotherapy, as well
as newer mechanism-based anti-cancer drugs and immuno-oncology
checkpoint inhibitors. In addition to pre-clinical testing, a Phase
1/2 clinical program with APR-246 has been completed, demonstrating
a favorable safety profile and both biological and confirmed
clinical responses in hematological malignancies and solid tumors
with mutations in the TP53 gene.
A pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of APR-246 and azacitidine for
frontline treatment of TP53 mutant MDS is ongoing. APR-246 has
received Breakthrough Therapy, Orphan Drug and Fast Track
designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for MDS,
and Orphan Drug designation from the European Medicines Agency for
MDS, AML and ovarian cancer.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this press release includes
“forward-looking statements”, within the meaning of Section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, related to our
clinical trials and regulatory submissions. We may, in some cases
use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “continue,”
“anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,”
“could,” “might,” “likely,” “will,” “should” or other words that
convey uncertainty of the future events or outcomes to identify
these forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements
are based on current beliefs and expectations of our management
team that involve risks, potential changes in circumstances,
assumptions, and uncertainties. Any or all of the
forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong or be affected
by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown
risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties including risks related to the
success and timing of our clinical trials or other studies and the
other risks set forth in our filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission, including in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. For all these reasons,
actual results and developments could be materially different from
those expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of
this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update
such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or
circumstances.
Corporate Contacts:
Scott M. Coiante
Sr. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
617-463-9385
Gregory A. Korbel
Vice President of Business Development
617-463-9385
Source: Aprea Therapeutics, Inc.
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