Hepion Pharmaceuticals Appoints Accomplished Life Sciences Industry Veteran, Dr. Launa J. Aspeslet, as Chief Operating Officer
June 14 2022 - 8:00AM
Hepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:HEPA), a clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company focused on Artificial Intelligence
(“AI”)-driven therapeutic drug development for the treatment of
non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (“NASH”) and hepatocellular carcinoma
(“HCC”), today announced the appointment of Launa J. Aspeslet, PhD,
RAC, as Chief Operating Officer.
A versatile C-level executive with more than 25
years of progressive life sciences industry leadership and
management experience, Dr. Aspeslet has expertise in strategic
planning and growth; clinical research; regulatory affairs; quality
assurance and control; and research and development. She was most
recently the CEO of Translational Research in Oncology (TRIO), a
clinical research organization that manages oncology trials around
the globe. Dr. Aspeslet was previously a biotechnology consultant
where she planned, implemented, and executed drug, device, or
combination product development strategies for early-stage
companies. For 17 years, she held positions of increasing
responsibility and leadership at Isotechnika Pharma Inc., serving
as its Chief Operating Officer until its acquisition of Aurinia
Pharmaceuticals Inc. in 2013. Dr. Aspeslet received a Bachelor of
Science degree in chemistry from the University of Lethbridge and a
Doctor of Philosophy degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the
University of Alberta. She has Regulatory Affairs Certification
(RAC) and completed the Ivey Business School at Western
University’s executive program.
“At Isotechnika, Launa was an integral part of
the team that discovered and developed voclosporin, which in
January 2021 received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval
for the treatment of lupus nephritis,” said Robert Foster, PharmD,
PhD, Hepion’s CEO. “I am thrilled to once again be working with
Launa, this time on the development of Hepion’s lead candidate,
rencofilstat, and on behalf of our team would like to extend her
the warmest welcome.”
Dr. Aspeslet commented, “In addition to being
excited by this opportunity to work with my talented colleagues on
a second development program, I am energized to join the Company on
the heels of positive Phase 2a data and ahead of three additional
Phase 2 studies of rencofilstat for the treatment of NASH and
HCC.”
About Hepion Pharmaceuticals
The Company's lead drug candidate, rencofilstat,
is a potent inhibitor of cyclophilins, which are involved in many
disease processes. Rencofilstat is currently in clinical-phase
development for the treatment of NASH, with the potential to play
an important role in the overall treatment of liver disease - from
triggering events through to end-stage disease. Rencofilstat has
been shown to reduce liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
tumor burden in experimental models of NASH, and has demonstrated
antiviral activities towards HBV, HCV, and HDV through several
mechanisms, in nonclinical studies. In November 2021, the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (“FDA”) granted Fast Track designation for
rencofilstat for the treatment of NASH. That was soon followed in
December 2021 by the FDA’s acceptance of Hepion’s investigational
new drug (IND) application for rencofilstat for the treatment of
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Hepion has created a proprietary AI platform,
called AI-POWR™, which stands for Artificial
Intelligence - Precision Medicine;
Omics (including genomics, proteomics,
metabolomics, transcriptomics, and lipidomics);
World database access; and
Response and clinical outcomes. Hepion intends to
use AI-POWR™ to help identify which NASH patients will best respond
to rencofilstat, potentially shortening development timelines and
increasing the delta between placebo and treatment groups. In
addition to using AI-POWR™ to drive its ongoing NASH clinical
development program, Hepion intends to use the platform to identify
additional potential indications for rencofilstat to expand the
company's footprint in the cyclophilin inhibition therapeutic
space.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are
forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may be identified
by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,”
“believe,” “forecast,” “estimated,” and “intend,” among others.
These forward-looking statements are based on Hepion
Pharmaceuticals’ current expectations and actual results could
differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause
actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not
limited to, substantial competition; our ability to continue as a
going concern; our need for additional financing; uncertainties of
patent protection and litigation; risks associated with delays,
increased costs and funding shortages caused by the COVID-19
pandemic; uncertainties with respect to lengthy and expensive
clinical trials, that results of earlier studies and trials may not
be predictive of future trial results; uncertainties of government
or third party payer reimbursement; limited sales and marketing
efforts and dependence upon third parties; and risks related to
failure to obtain FDA clearances or approvals and noncompliance
with FDA regulations. As with any drug candidates under
development, there are significant risks in the development,
regulatory approval, and commercialization of new products. There
are no guarantees that future clinical trials discussed in this
press release will be completed or successful, or that any product
will receive regulatory approval for any indication or prove to be
commercially successful. Hepion Pharmaceuticals does not undertake
an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.
Investors should read the risk factors set forth in Hepion
Pharmaceuticals’ Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021,
and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
For further information, please contact:
Stephen KilmerHepion Pharmaceuticals Investor RelationsDirect:
(646) 274-3580skilmer@hepionpharma.com
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