CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Blueprint
Medicines Corporation (NASDAQ: BPMC), a leader in discovering
and developing targeted kinase medicines for patients with
genomically defined diseases, today announced that Marion Dorsch, Ph.D., will succeed Christoph Lengauer, Ph.D., MBA, as Chief
Scientific Officer, effective November 21,
2016. Dr. Dorsch will join the executive management team and
will be responsible for setting the scientific strategy and
priorities for Blueprint Medicines, as well as overseeing
day-to-day research operations. Dr. Lengauer will transition to the
role of Executive Vice President where he will drive an integrated
approach to progressing Blueprint Medicines' portfolio of
investigational drugs.
"I am delighted to welcome Marion to Blueprint. She is a
seasoned leader with a deep understanding of human biology and a
wealth of experience identifying novel drug targets for cancer and
rare genetic diseases, including significant experience in cancer
immunology," said Jeff Albers, Chief
Executive Officer of Blueprint Medicines. "Her expertise driving
drug discovery across both internal and partnered programs will be
invaluable as we continue to explore the vast potential of kinase
therapies. I am thrilled to have someone of Marion's caliber and
experience join our team, and I look forward to her contributions
as we expand our efforts to improve the lives of patients who need
new treatment options."
"Christoph's passion, vision and insights have been critical to
Blueprint Medicines' success to date, and I look forward to him
bringing that same energy to his new role where he will continue to
be a catalyst in the company's success," continued Mr.
Albers. "Christoph is renowned throughout the industry as an
expert in precision medicine, and in his new position, Christoph
will continue to inform our strategy as well as drive an integrated
approach to moving our compounds from discovery through development
at a critical time for Blueprint as we progress our broad
pipeline."
Dr. Dorsch joins Blueprint Medicines from Agios Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. (Agios) where she served as Vice President of Biology. In this
role, she was responsible for novel target validation, drug
discovery, and biomarker strategy across Agios' cancer, rare
genetic diseases and immuno-oncology portfolios. During her tenure
at Agios, Dr. Dorsch contributed to the successful advancement of
several molecules targeting defined genetic lesions into clinical
trials. Prior to joining Agios, Dr. Dorsch was the Director of
Cancer Biology at Sanofi Oncology, where she oversaw drug discovery
efforts. Earlier in her career, Dr. Dorsch served as research
project leader for sonidegib (Odomzo), now approved in the U.S. and
EU for the treatment of locally advanced basal cell carcinoma, at
the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research and also worked in
Inflammation Discovery at Millennium Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Dorsch
received her Ph.D. in Biology from the Free University of
Berlin, Germany and was a
postdoctoral fellow at Columbia
University in New York.
"I am thrilled to join Blueprint Medicines at this exciting
time," said Dr. Dorsch. "The company's novel drug discovery
approach has demonstrated a unique ability to target both validated
genomic drivers of disease, that have historically proven tough to
address scientifically, as well as programs directed towards novel
targets resulting from Blueprint's genomic insights. I believe
Blueprint Medicines has multiple potential opportunities to expand
its pipeline, and I look forward to working with the company's
scientists to further leverage Blueprint's proprietary compound
library to evaluate the role of unexplored kinases in driving
disease."
"Marion and I worked together closely at both Novartis and
Sanofi, and I cannot imagine anyone better suited to take on the
role of Chief Scientific Officer at Blueprint Medicines. Marion is
a talented scientist and an excellent leader, making her the
perfect fit to direct and continue to build the science
organization. I am personally very excited to have the opportunity
to work with Marion again, and believe our complementary
contributions will best position Blueprint in its mission to bring
transformative medicines to patients," said Dr. Lengauer. "I
am also thrilled to be staying intimately involved with Blueprint
in a role that has the unique strategic imperative to integrate
cross functional efforts across the exceptional talents throughout
Blueprint and to balance our focus between the broad strategic view
and day-to-day execution on our exciting pipeline of
investigational drugs."
About Blueprint Medicines
Blueprint Medicines is developing a new generation of
targeted kinase medicines to improve the lives of patients with
genomically defined diseases. The Company's approach is rooted in a
deep understanding of the genetic blueprint of cancer and other
diseases driven by the abnormal activation of
kinases. Blueprint Medicines is advancing three programs
in clinical development for subsets of patients with
gastrointestinal stromal tumors, hepatocellular carcinoma and
systemic mastocytosis, as well as multiple programs in research and
preclinical development. For more information, please
visit www.blueprintmedicines.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements
regarding Blueprint Medicines' strategy, business plans and focus.
The words "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect,"
"plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict,"
"project," "potential," "continue," "target" and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements,
although not all forward-looking statements contain these
identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press
release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs
and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important
factors that may cause actual events or results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking
statements contained in this press release, including, without
limitation, risks and uncertainties related to the delay of any
current or planned clinical trials or the development of Blueprint
Medicines' drug product candidates, including BLU-285 and BLU-554;
Blueprint Medicines' advancement of multiple early-stage efforts;
Blueprint Medicines' ability to successfully demonstrate the
efficacy and safety of its drug product candidates; the preclinical
and clinical results for Blueprint Medicines' drug product
candidates, which may not support further development of such drug
product candidates; and actions of regulatory agencies, which may
affect the initiation, timing and progress of clinical trials;
Blueprint Medicines' ability to develop and commercialize companion
diagnostics for its current and future drug candidates, including
companion diagnostics for BLU-554 with Ventana Medical Systems,
Inc. and for BLU-285 with QIAGEN Manchester Limited; and the
success of Blueprint Medicines' rare genetic disease collaboration
with Alexion Pharma Holding and its cancer immunotherapy
collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and Hoffmann-La Roche
Inc. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in
greater detail in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Blueprint
Medicines' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2016, as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 10, 2016, and other filings that
Blueprint Medicines may make with the SEC in the future. Any
forward-looking statements contained in this press release
represent Blueprint Medicines' views only as of the date hereof and
should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any
subsequent date. Blueprint Medicines explicitly disclaims any
obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE Blueprint Medicines Corporation