Zafgen, Inc. Strengthens Executive Leadership Team with Appointment of Industry Veteran Priya Singhal as Head of Research an...
March 04 2019 - 7:00AM
Zafgen, Inc. (Nasdaq:ZFGN) a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company leveraging its proprietary knowledge of MetAP2 systems
biology to develop novel therapies for patients affected by a range
of metabolic diseases, today announced the appointment of
Priya Singhal, M.D., M.P.H., as Head of Research and Development.
Dr. Singhal brings more than a decade of experience as a senior
drug development executive and several years of experience as a
clinician to her role at Zafgen, where she will lead and oversee
the Company’s research, clinical and manufacturing strategy and
implementation. She will also serve as a key member of the
executive team supporting overall business strategy.
Dr. Singhal joins Zafgen most recently from Biogen, where she
was concurrently the Senior Vice President and the Global Head of
Safety and Benefit Risk Management (SABR) and the Interim Global
Co-lead and Senior Vice President of Global Development.
“Priya is a seasoned and exceptional industry leader, and we are
thrilled to welcome her to Zafgen to support the development of
second-generation MetAP2 therapies for patients with complex
metabolic disorders,” said Jeffrey Hatfield, Chief Executive
Officer of Zafgen. “Her extensive experience leading strategy
around innovative, first-in-class development programs includes
driving critical nonclinical and clinical decisions and regulatory
interactions. This expertise, combined with a genuine passion for
transforming the lives of patients through therapeutic innovation,
aligns perfectly with and supports the mission, vision and growth
of Zafgen. I look forward to building a partnership with her and
working together to create value for investors and patients.”
During her tenure at Biogen, Dr. Singhal led the worldwide
benefit-risk strategy for the Biogen portfolio as well as for the
filings and approvals of six products, including Tecfidera and
Spinraza. She also contributed to Biogen’s overall R&D strategy
and drug development plans, chaired safety governance for the
entire portfolio, and led numerous successful portfolio and product
interactions with regulators worldwide.
“Throughout my career I have been drawn to opportunities to lead
translation from new scientific insights into safe and effective
treatments that make a difference for patients and their families,”
said Dr. Singhal. “Zafgen is highly scientific and patient-centric
in its approach. I am excited to collaborate with this dedicated
team and bring my experience across the drug development life cycle
to guide the R&D strategy and realize the full potential of
this pathway.”
Prior to Biogen, Dr. Singhal held roles of increasing seniority
at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, including VP, Medical Affairs, where she
led strategy and educational efforts across all Vertex programs
including the company’s hepatitis C (HCV) and cystic fibrosis
portfolios. She led benefit-risk for the HCV portfolio and
represented Vertex at the FDA Advisory Committee for Incivek that
resulted in an 18-0 positive vote. Previously, Dr. Singhal also led
benefit-risk for Velcade and two compounds in the development
portfolio at Millennium Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Singhal earned her M.P.H. at Harvard School of Public Health
and M.D. (internal medicine) from the University of Mumbai. She is
a frequent, invited speaker at pharmaceutical and biotechnology
conferences and is actively engaged in national and international
educational programs about drug development.
About Zafgen Zafgen (Nasdaq:ZFGN) is
a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging its
proprietary MetAP2 biology platform to develop novel therapies for
patients affected by complex metabolic
diseases. Zafgen has pioneered the study of MetAP2
inhibitors in both common and rare metabolic disorders and is
currently advancing programs for type 2 diabetes, Prader-Willi
syndrome and liver diseases. Learn more at www.zafgen.com.
Safe Harbor StatementVarious statements in this
release concerning Zafgen’s future expectations, plans and
prospects, including without limitation, Zafgen’s expectations
regarding the use of ZGN-1258, ZGN-1061 and other second-generation
MetAP2 inhibitors as treatments for metabolic diseases including
Prader-Willi syndrome, type 2 diabetes, liver diseases and obesity
and Zafgen’s expectations with respect to the timing and success of
its nonclinical studies and clinical trials of ZGN-1258, ZGN-1061
and its other product candidates, may constitute forward-looking
statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal
securities laws. Forward-looking statements can be identified by
terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “could
increase the likelihood,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “is
planned,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “will enable,” “would be
expected,” “look forward,” “may provide,” “would” or similar terms,
variations of such terms or the negative of those terms. Actual
results may differ materially from those indicated by these
forward-looking statements as a result of various important
factors, including, without limitation, Zafgen’s ability to
successfully demonstrate the efficacy and safety of ZGN-1258,
ZGN-1061 and its other product candidates and to differentiate
ZGN-1258, ZGN-1061 and its other product candidates from first
generation MetAP2 inhibitors, such as beloranib, the nonclinical
and clinical results for ZGN-1258, ZGN-1061 and its other product
candidates, which may not support further development and marketing
approval, actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the
initiation, timing and progress of nonclinical studies and clinical
trials of its product candidates, Zafgen’s ability to obtain,
maintain and protect its intellectual property, Zafgen’s ability to
enforce its patents against infringers and defend its patent
portfolio against challenges from third parties, competition from
others developing products for similar uses, Zafgen’s ability to
manage operating expenses, Zafgen’s ability to obtain additional
funding to support its business activities and establish and
maintain strategic business alliances and new business initiatives
when needed, Zafgen’s dependence on third parties for development,
manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of product
candidates, and unexpected expenditures, as well as those risks
more fully discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in
Zafgen’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as discussions of
potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in
Zafgen’s subsequent filings, including without limitation Zafgen’s
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent
Zafgen’s views only as of today and should not be relied upon as
representing its views as of any subsequent date. Zafgen explicitly
disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Media/Investor Relations Contacts: Zafgen, Inc.
Patricia Allen Chief Financial Officer 617-648-9792
Media Krystle Gibbs Ten Bridge Communications
krystle@tenbridgecommunications.com 508-479-6358
Investors John Woolford Westwicke, An ICR Company
john.woolford@westwicke.com 443-213-0506
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