Flex Pharma Names William McVicar President and Chief Executive Officer
July 31 2017 - 7:30AM
Business Wire
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Flex Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLKS), a clinical-stage biotechnology
company that is developing innovative and proprietary treatments
for cramps and spasticity associated with severe neurological
diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS), Charcot-Marie-Tooth
(CMT) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) under FDA Fast Track
designation, today announced that the Board of Directors has
appointed William McVicar, Ph.D., as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Flex Pharma.
Dr. McVicar joined Flex Pharma in April 2017 as President of
Research & Development. In June 2017, Dr. McVicar was appointed
interim President and CEO with Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D.
continuing to serve as Chairman of the Board of Flex Pharma.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am excited to announce
Bill as the permanent President and CEO of Flex Pharma,” said Dr.
Westphal. “As a company, we have made important strides in recent
months across our therapeutic portfolio, most notably with the
recent Fast Track designation granted by the FDA for the
development of FLX-787 for the treatment of severe muscle cramps in
patients with ALS. I believe that Bill and the entire senior
management team will succeed in executing on our business strategy
while optimizing shareholder value over the long-term.”
“At Flex Pharma, we are dedicated to developing and delivering
novel treatments for neuromuscular disorders to patients in need,”
said Dr. McVicar. “It is an honor to be named as President and CEO
of a company focused on alleviating severe cramping and spasticity
prevalent among incurable neurological diseases, such as ALS, CMT
and MS. We are encouraged by the Fast Track designation received
for FLX-787, one of the most advanced, novel compounds for severe
neurological diseases, and look forward to continued collaboration
with the FDA in this phase of accelerated clinical development. We
are on track to initiate Phase 2 clinical trials of FLX-787 in both
ALS and CMT this quarter in the US. These studies will yield
important data readouts in 2018.”
“Following a thorough search process, Bill emerged as the best
leader for the company as it enters this important phase of
clinical execution,” said Dr. Rod MacKinnon, Nobel laureate and
Flex Pharma Scientific Co-Founder, Board Member, and Scientific
Advisory Board Co-Chair. “Flex Pharma is well positioned for
clinical and operational success. I have full confidence in Bill to
lead the continued advancement of our potentially life-altering
therapies through the necessary regulatory pathways and ultimately
deliver to the patients who currently have no safe and effective
options.”
Dr. McVicar has a track record of clinical development and
operational success with nearly 30 years of experience, most
recently serving as Chief Scientific Officer at Inotek. During his
tenure at Inotek, he also served as Executive Vice President of
Pharmaceutical Development, Chief Scientific Officer, and
President. Prior to Inotek, he served as Vice President of
Development Operations at Sepracor, where he oversaw the
development, FDA review, and approval of multiple NDAs and SNDAs,
including BROVANA®, XOPENEX MDI®, and XOPENEX’s pediatric approval,
which were each approved in a single 10-month review cycle. Dr.
McVicar and Flex Chief Medical Officer Thomas Wessel, M.D., Ph.D.
worked together at Sepracor through the U.S. approval of LUNESTA®.
Prior to Sepracor, Dr. McVicar held various positions of increasing
responsibility at Sandoz, Novartis and Rhone Poulenc Rorer.
About Flex Pharma
Flex Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that
is developing innovative and proprietary treatments for cramps and
spasticity associated with the severe neurological diseases
including ALS, MS and Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). The Company’s lead
candidate, FLX-787, is being developed under Fast Track designation
for the treatment of severe muscle cramps associated with ALS. Flex
Pharma was founded by National Academy of Science members Rod
MacKinnon, M.D. (2003 Nobel Laureate), and Bruce Bean, Ph.D.,
recognized leaders in the fields of ion channels and neurobiology,
along with Chair Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements for
purposes of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include
statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook,
analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things,
the design and timing of ongoing and anticipated clinical trials,
including the timing for results of our clinical trials. These
forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations
and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are
subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied
by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, without
limitation: the status, timing, costs, results and interpretation
of our clinical studies; the uncertainties inherent in conducting
clinical studies; our ability to enroll patients in each of
clinical studies on a timely basis; expectations of our ability to
make regulatory filings and obtain and maintain regulatory
approvals; availability of funding sufficient for our foreseeable
and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital expenditure
requirements; the inherent uncertainties associated with
intellectual property; and other factors discussed in greater
detail under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and subsequent
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You are
encouraged to read our filings with the SEC, available at
www.sec.gov, for a discussion of these and other risks and
uncertainties. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this
press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We
assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
after the date of this press release.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170731005396/en/
Flex Pharma, Inc.Elizabeth Woo, 617-874-1829SVP, Investor
Relations & Corporate Communicationsirdept@flex-pharma.com
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