Company Focused on IND-Enabling Work with Protein Therapeutics that
Modulate Alternative Pathway of Complement System
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Taligen Therapeutics Inc.
today announced it has initiated a corporate growth plan with the
appointment of Abbie Celniker, Ph.D., as chief executive officer and the
establishment of its headquarters in Cambridge, Mass. Dr. Celniker succeeds
Woodruff Emlen, M.D., a co-founder of the company who remains president.
Under Dr. Celniker's leadership, Taligen intends to build its
late-stage research and development operations in Cambridge while
maintaining in Denver its early discovery activities that are closely
aligned with an international complement biology research network organized
by Michael Holers, M.D., one of the company's founders.
"Abbie's expertise will be critical to the acceleration of our efforts
to develop protein therapeutics that are designed to modulate the
alternative pathway of the complement system," said Dr. Emlen. "We are
currently focused on IND-enabling work with our therapeutic candidates.
Moreover, we have advanced our programs to the point where Abbie's
significant experience in devising and implementing strategies and building
infrastructure for the development of biologics will enable us to realize
the potential of our expertise in complement biology."
Prior to joining Taligen, Dr. Celniker was global head of Novartis
Biologics, where she built and oversaw Novartis' strategy and
infrastructure for the late-stage discovery and development of protein
therapeutics. Before this, she held senior research and development
leadership positions with Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth BioPharma
(Genetics Institute) and Genentech. Dr. Celniker earned a Ph.D. in
molecular biology from the University of Arizona and a B.A. in biology from
the University of California, San Diego.
"We are excited to have attracted someone of Abbie's caliber to Taligen
at a time the company is moving rapidly toward the clinical development
stage," said Tim Mills, Ph.D., Taligen's chairman and a managing director
with Sanderling Ventures. "I look forward to working with her as we
implement our corporate growth plan to build a company focused on the
development of a pipeline of protein therapeutics intended for the
treatment of diseases where complement dysregulation is implicated."
In January Taligen closed the first tranche of a $65 million Series B
financing led by Alta Partners and Clarus Ventures with participation from
existing investors Sanderling Ventures, Tango and High Country Venture. The
financing is expected to enable Taligen to implement its growth plan and
advance multiple product candidates to the proof-of-concept stage.
"I am thrilled to join and lead the Taligen team," said Dr. Celniker.
"The complement system is emerging as a critical area for drug development.
Taligen's founders discovered and validated the importance of the
alternative pathway as an amplification loop in the inflammation process.
Based on this expertise, the company has designed protein therapeutics that
are intended for the treatment of a wide range of orphan and large
indications. These programs are cutting-edge and should be very appealing
to prospective corporate partners. With the company's expertise, protein
therapeutic development candidates and strong financial backing, Taligen is
well-positioned to implement its corporate growth plan."
About Taligen Therapeutics
Taligen Therapeutics is focused on the discovery and development of
novel protein therapeutics that are designed to modulate the alternative
pathway of the complement system to treat a wide range of inflammatory
conditions and diseases. The company's lead therapeutic candidates are
monoclonal antibodies and recombinant fusion proteins that target key
factors in the alternative pathway, which Taligen's founders have validated
as an important amplification loop in the inflammation process. Taligen's
headquarters and late-stage research and development operations are located
in Cambridge, Mass. The company also maintains a drug discovery operation
in Denver that is closely aligned with an international complement biology
research network organized by Michael Holers, M.D., one of the company's
founders. For more information, visit http://www.taligentherapeutics.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including statements relating to development of
the Company's product candidates and potential advantages of the Company's
technology and product candidates. Actual results could differ materially
from those projected and the Company cautions readers not to place undue
reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this release.
Media Contacts:
David Schull or Robert Flamm, Ph.D.
Russo Partners
(212) 845-4271
david.schull@russopartnersllc.com
robert.flamm@russopartnersllc.com
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[Via Healthcare]
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