Opexa Hires Experienced Pharmaceutical Executive as Vice President of Business Development
June 09 2015 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPXA), a
biopharmaceutical company developing personalized immunotherapies
for autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS) and
neuromyelitis optica (NMO), is pleased to announce that Dr. Jason
Kralic has joined the company in the new role of Vice President of
Business Development. Dr. Kralic will be responsible for business
development activities, including partnering, licensing and
managing external relationships, and he will report directly to
Neil Warma, President and CEO of Opexa.
"We are pleased to have Jason join Opexa’s team to head up our
business development activities. Jason has a wealth of experience
gained from overseeing worldwide business development for
neurosciences R & D while at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). In
addition, Jason has a proven track record in negotiating both
in-licensing and out-licensing deals and in developing strategic
partnerships. Jason’s addition complements the strong management
capabilities we have at Opexa and his expertise will be
instrumental in continuing to position Opexa as a leader in
precision immunotherapy,” stated Mr. Warma.
Opexa’s lead T-cell immunotherapy therapy, Tcelna® received Fast
Track designation from the U.S. FDA and is currently in development
in a Phase 2b clinical trial for secondary progressive multiple
sclerosis (SPMS). The trial is fully enrolled with data expected in
the second half of 2016. Opexa entered an option and license
agreement with Merck Serono for Tcelna for the multiple sclerosis
indications worldwide, excluding Japan. Opexa retains all rights to
all other disease indications developed off its proprietary T-cell
platform, including OPX-212 which is in early, pre-IND development
for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica (NMO), a rare (orphan)
disease for which there are no approved treatments.
Dr. Kralic is a neuroscience-trained business development
executive who most recently served as Head of Business Development
for the Neurosciences Therapy Area Unit at GlaxoSmithKline.
Dr. Kralic joined GSK in 2009 as Director of Scientific Licensing
in Worldwide Business Development covering late stage development
and was promoted in 2011 to manage all Neurosciences R&D
business development. Prior to GSK, Dr. Kralic served in
scientific licensing roles at UCB Pharma
and Schwarz Biosciences. Dr. Kralic holds a Ph.D. in
pharmacology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
School of Medicine and completed his post-doctoral training at the
University of Zurich.
About Opexa
Opexa is a biopharmaceutical company developing a personalized
immunotherapy with the potential to treat major illnesses,
including multiple sclerosis (MS) as well as other autoimmune
diseases such as neuromyelitis optica (NMO). These therapies are
based on Opexa’s proprietary T-cell technology. The Company’s
leading therapy candidate, Tcelna®, is a personalized T-cell
immunotherapy that is in a Phase 2b clinical development program
(the Abili-T trial) for the treatment of secondary progressive MS.
Tcelna consists of myelin-reactive T-cells, which are expanded ex
vivo from the patient’s peripheral blood and reintroduced into the
patient in an attenuated form via subcutaneous injections. This
process triggers a potent immune response against specific subsets
of autoreactive T-cells known to attack myelin for each individual
patient.
For more information visit the Opexa Therapeutics website at
www.opexatherapeutics.com.
Cautionary Statement Relating to Forward-Looking Information
for the Purpose of "Safe Harbor" Provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
Statements contained in this release, other than statements of
historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
The words "expects," "believes," "may," "intends," "potential" and
similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. These forward-looking statements do not constitute
guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that
forward-looking statements, including without limitation statements
regarding the safety, efficacy and projected development timeline
of drug candidates such as Tcelna® and OPX-212, constitute
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are
based upon our current expectations and involve assumptions that
may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results
and the timing of events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of
various risks and uncertainties, which include without limitation
our ability to raise additional capital to continue our development
programs, our ability to successfully develop potential products
such as Tcelna, our ability to obtain, maintain and protect
intellectual property rights (including for Tcelna and pipeline
candidates such as OPX-212), as well as other risks associated with
the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drug
candidates that are safe and effective for use as human
therapeutics. These and other risks are described in detail in our
SEC filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2014 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All
forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as
of the date on which they were first made by us, and we undertake
no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that
occur or circumstances that exist after such date.
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Opexa Therapeutics, Inc.Karthik Radhakrishnan, 281-775-0600Chief
Financial Officer
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