Allena Pharmaceuticals Strengthens Leadership Team, Names Edward Wholihan as Chief Financial Officer & Robert Alexander, PhD,...
September 07 2016 - 7:05AM
Business Wire
Allena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical
company focused on developing and commercializing innovative,
non-systemic, oral protein therapeutics to treat metabolic and
orphan diseases, today announced that Edward Wholihan has joined
the company as Chief Financial Officer and Robert Alexander, PhD,
has been named to the Board of Directors.
Mr. Wholihan brings more than 25 years of financial,
operational, and global business development leadership in the
healthcare and technology sectors to Allena.
Dr. Alexander currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of ZS
Pharma, a subsidiary of AstraZeneca. ZS Pharma, a biopharmaceutical
company developing a novel treatment for hyperkalemia was acquired
by AstraZeneca in 2015 for approximately $2.7 billion.
“We are delighted to welcome Ed and Robert to our team. Ed’s
proven track record of driving operating and financial performance
in high growth private and publicly-traded companies will enhance
our ability to create and manage shareholder value. Robert’s
insight and leadership in developing non-absorbed drugs to treat
cardio-renal disease, and his financial and transactional expertise
will be highly beneficial to Allena as we are accelerating
development of the first treatment for oxalate disorders,” said
Alexey Margolin, PhD, President and CEO of Allena
Pharmaceuticals.
“I am thrilled to join the Allena team at this exciting time in
the company’s evolution”, said Mr. Wholihan. “Allena has the
potential to transform the lives of millions of people worldwide
suffering from oxalate disorders, and to reduce healthcare costs
accordingly”.
“New treatment options for oxalate disorders are sorely needed.
Kidney stones affect millions people in the US and create an
enormous economic and societal burden. ALLN-177, Allena’s lead
product, has the potential to become the first oxalate-lowering
agent,” said Dr. Alexander. “I am looking forward to working with
the Allena team on advancing this innovative drug to the
patients.
Mr. Wholihan joins Allena after a series of successful CFO roles
in high growth healthcare and life science companies. Most
recently, he served as CFO of Medical Specialties Distributors
(MSD), the leading provider of infusion therapy solutions to home
healthcare firms, specialty pharmacies, and oncology practices.
Prior to MSD, he was the CFO of Generation Health, a healthcare
management company specializing in helping employers and other
payors optimize the use of genomic testing. He also served as CFO
and Vice President of Business Development for Inovise Medical, a
medical device company, and helped lead Preview Systems, a security
software and services company, from an emerging growth company
through its Initial Public Offering to a successful sale. Early in
his career, he spent seven years with McKinsey & Company, where
he advised Fortune 1000 corporations on strategic, financial, and
operational issues. Ed earned an MBA from Stanford University’s
Graduate School of Business and a BA in Economics from Yale
University.
Dr. Alexander is currently CEO of ZS Pharma. Prior to ZS Pharma,
Robert was a Director at Alta Partners, a venture capital firm. In
addition, he acted as Executive Chairman and interim CEO of SARcode
Bioscience. During his time at Alta Partners, he led investments in
SARcode Bioscience (acquired by Shire), Allakos, Lumena
Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Shire), and ZS Pharma. Prior to Alta
Partners, Robert was a Principal in MPM Capital’s BioEquities Fund.
Robert joined MPM from Genentech, where he worked in the Business
Development group. He holds a PhD in immunology from the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in zoology
from Miami University of Ohio.
About Hyperoxaluria and ALLN-177
Hyperoxaluria is a condition resulting from high oxalate levels
in the urine due to either hyper-absorption of oxalate from the
diet (secondary) or from overproduction of oxalate by the liver due
to a genetic defect (primary). Oxalate is a terminal metabolite
that cannot be further degraded by humans and is primarily excreted
by the kidneys. Hyperoxaluria can initially cause the development
of kidney stones, and may also lead to kidney damage
(nephrocalcinosis), chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease
and dialysis. Calcium oxalate is the most common constituent of
kidney stones. There are currently no approved pharmacologic
treatments for hyperoxaluria.
ALLN-177 is an orally-administered, recombinant
oxalate-degrading enzyme in development for the chronic management
of hyperoxaluria and kidney stones (nephrolithiasis). ALLN-177
targets oxalate in the gastrointestinal tract in an effort to
reduce the burden of both dietary and endogenously produced
oxalate. ALLN-177 has the potential to decrease the oxalate
available systemically for deposition as calcium oxalate crystals
or stones in the kidneys, as well as reduce the incidence of
calcium oxalate related complications. Effective management of
hyperoxaluria could reduce long-term kidney complications, as well
as the number of interventions required for the management of
kidney stones.
About Allena Pharmaceuticals
Allena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty biopharmaceutical
company focused on developing and commercializing non-systemic
protein therapeutics to treat metabolic and orphan diseases. Allena
is currently conducting two Phase 2 clinical trials of its lead
product candidate, ALLN-177, in patients with hyperoxaluria. The
company’s technological approach enables the design and development
of oral protein therapies that remain in the gastrointestinal (GI)
tract, where the protein exerts its therapeutic effect by degrading
toxic metabolites, without being absorbed into the bloodstream. Led
by a proven management team with deep expertise in protein
therapeutic design and development, Allena is committed to bringing
breakthrough new treatments to patients with unmet medical needs.
Based in Newton, MA, the company is supported by a top-tier
investor syndicate including Frazier Healthcare, Third Rock
Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, HBM Partners, Pharmstandard
International S.A., Partner Fund Management, Fidelity Management
& Research Company, and other investors. For more information,
please visit www.allenapharma.com.
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Allena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.Janet Giroux, 617-467-4577Manager of
Corporate Operationsjgiroux@allenapharma.com