Aquinox Promotes Lloyd Mackenzie to Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, R&D Operations
December 15 2017 - 9:00AM
Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Aquinox") (NASDAQ:AQXP) today
announced that Lloyd Mackenzie has been promoted, effective
immediately, to the newly created position of Chief Operating
Officer and Vice President, R&D Operations.
“As we focus on executing the clinical development plan for
rosiptor, our lead drug candidate, this is a critical role that
will provide leadership for the execution phase of all of our
research and clinical operations,” said David Main, President &
CEO. “Lloyd has been a core member of the Aquinox team for nearly
ten years. His strong cross-functional and project management
leadership will be invaluable in our next phase of growth as he
applies his demonstrated track record for getting complex projects
completed on time and on budget.”
Mackenzie will be responsible for leadership of Aquinox’s
functions of research, including preclinical operations, chemistry,
manufacturing, and controls (CMC), quality assurance, and clinical
operations.
“Lloyd and our Chief Medical Officer Barbara Troupin represent a
dynamic leadership team for our product development efforts,” said
Main. “As we move toward the completion of enrollment of the
LEADERSHIP 301 trial in the first quarter of 2018, and anticipated
top-line data in the third quarter of 2018, Lloyd and Barbara’s
teams are focused on effective and efficient plans for the
requirements ahead.”
Mackenzie, who joined Aquinox in 2008, has served as a vice
president since 2013 and has overseen an increasing number of
Aquinox functions, including technical operations, planning,
early-stage development and CMC. Mackenzie was previously part of
the pharmaceutical development team at QLT Inc. and was a senior
research scientist at Inflazyme Pharmaceuticals Ltd., both based in
Vancouver.
“I look forward to taking on this broader role of leadership of
R&D operations,” said Mackenzie. “Dr. Troupin and I have formed
a strong working relationship and I’m excited for us to lead an
integrated approach to our product development strategies and
execution.”
Mackenzie completed a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry
from Simon Fraser University and conducted postgraduate studies in
biochemistry and chemistry at the University of British Columbia.
He is the author of 15 scientific publications and is an inventor
on four patents, including patents relating to rosiptor.
About Rosiptor (AQX-1125)Rosiptor, Aquinox's
lead drug candidate, is a small molecule activator of SHIP1, which
is a regulating component of the PI3K cellular signaling pathway.
By increasing SHIP1 activity, rosiptor accelerates a natural
mechanism that has evolved to maintain homeostasis of the immune
system and reduce immune cell activation and migration to sites of
inflammation. Rosiptor has demonstrated preliminary safety and
favorable drug properties for once daily oral administration in
multiple preclinical studies and eight completed clinical
trials.
About Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
(IC/BPS)IC/BPS is a chronic inflammatory bladder disease
characterized by pelvic pain and increased urinary frequency and/or
urgency. For many sufferers, these symptoms are severe and
adversely affect all major aspects of their lives, including
overall physical and emotional health, employment, social and
intimate relationships, and leisure activities. While the cause of
the disease remains largely unknown, erosion of the bladder lining
is thought to be a significant contributor. IC/BPS is estimated to
affect millions of people in the United States and around
the world. Most IC/BPS patients continue to suffer this
debilitating condition, despite treatment with existing therapies.
Most current therapies and those in development are focused solely
on symptomatic relief of IC/BPS. Aquinox believes new and
innovative therapies that target the underlying disease to reduce
the chronic pain and urinary symptoms are needed.
About the LEADERSHIP 301 TrialThe
LEADERSHIP 301 trial, which commenced enrollment in September
2016, is a three-arm, multicenter, randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled Phase 3 clinical trial investigating the ability
of 200 mg and 100 mg oral, once daily rosiptor (AQX-1125) to reduce
bladder pain in patients with IC/BPS. The primary endpoint of the
LEADERSHIP 301 trial is the difference in the change from baseline
in the maximum daily bladder pain score based on an 11-point
numeric rating scale (NRS) at twelve weeks recorded by electronic
diary. Additional endpoints include urinary symptoms, including
frequency and nighttime awakenings to void, as well as measures of
quality of life. The LEADERSHIP 301 trial also has an additional
52-week extension period, affording all participating patients the
opportunity for treatment with rosiptor. An anticipated minimum of
300 female patients, up to a maximum of 600 patients including
males, are currently being enrolled at clinical research centers
in the United States, Canada and Europe.
Top-line data from the LEADERSHIP 301 trial is anticipated in the
third quarter of 2018.
About Aquinox Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a late
clinical-stage pharmaceutical company discovering and developing
targeted therapeutics in disease areas of inflammation and
immuno-oncology. Our primary focus is anti-inflammatory product
candidates targeting SH2-containing inositol-5'-phosphatase 1,
or SHIP1, which is a key regulator of an important cellular
signaling pathway in immune cells, known as the PI3K pathway.
Aquinox's lead drug candidate, rosiptor (AQX-1125), is a small
molecule activator of SHIP1 suitable for oral, once daily
dosing. In September 2016, we began enrolling patients in
a Phase 3 clinical trial of rosiptor in our lead indication,
Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS). Other
indications are under consideration for future investigation.
Aquinox has a broad intellectual property portfolio and pipeline of
preclinical drug candidates that activate SHIP1. For more
information, please visit www.aqxpharma.com.
Cautionary Note on Forward-looking
StatementsCertain of the statements made in this press
release are forward looking, such as those, among others, relating
to: development of rosiptor (AQX-1125), LEADERSHIP 301 and
availability of top-line data. These statements are subject to
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events
to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not
limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: our ability to
enroll patients in our clinical trials at the pace that we project;
as an organization, we have never conducted a pivotal clinical
trial before; the size and growth of the potential markets for
rosiptor (AQX-1125) or any future product candidates and our
ability to serve those markets; our ability to obtain and maintain
regulatory approval of rosiptor (AQX-1125) or any future product
candidates; reaching agreement on design of pivotal trials with
regulatory authorities and our expectations regarding the potential
safety, efficacy or clinical utility of rosiptor or any future
product candidates. Actual results or developments may differ
materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking
statements. More information about the risks and uncertainties
faced by Aquinox is contained in the company's Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Aquinox disclaims
any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise.
Contact Info:
Brendan Payne Associate Director, Investor
Relations Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 604.901.3019
ir@aqxpharma.com
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