Sirona Biochem Corp (TSX-V: SBM) has appointed, effective immediately, Dr. Bertrand Plouvier as chief scientist and project manager.
Dr. Plouvier has worked in the biotech industry for more than 15 years with active leadership and involvement in drug discovery and development. Dr. Plouvier is a medicinal chemist and obtained his certification as Project Manager Professional (PMP) in March 2008. "Dr. Plouvier will be a critical asset in providing scientific and strategic leadership in progressing Sirona’s technology and drug discovery program." said Dr. Howard Verrico, CEO of Sirona. "He brings the experience required to develop our innovative agents to their full potential. We have now the necessary core team to complete our drug discovery program."
Dr. Plouvier recently worked with Cardiome Pharma where he established the company’s chemistry department and contributed in his role as Associate Director, Synthetic Chemistry to the discovery and development of several pre-clinical and clinical candidates for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias culminating in the collaborative discovery and clinical development of Vernakalant which is currently pending approval by the FDA. Cardiome recently signed a significant development deal with Merck & Co for the worldwide rights to an oral version of Vernakalant.
Mark Senner, President said, “I believe Dr. Plouvier will be a strong contributor to our future success. Through managing our innovative drug discovery program we anticipate that he will assist our team to meet and surpass our future milestones and development goals. He brings the necessary experience to lead the discovery and development of novel new SGLT molecules in partnership with TFChemistry for the treatment of diabetes and obesity”
"I believe that Sirona Biochem possesses very intriguing science and therapeutic approaches and I am looking forward to leveraging my experience in order to guide the Company through its upcoming stages of development," said Dr. Plouvier.
About Dr. Bertrand Plouvier, PhD, PMP:
Bertrand Plouvier is a consultant in medicinal chemistry and process development.
Since 2007, Dr. Plouvier is a consultant for several start-up pharmaceutical companies, one of them being Verona Pharma based in the UK. Before that, Dr. Plouvier worked with Cardiome Pharma from 1995 to 2007 and established the company’s chemistry department. He is a medicinal chemist who has discovered several pre-clinical and clinical candidates for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and cough over the course of his career. He was associate director of synthetic chemistry at Cardiome Pharma and contributed to the discovery and clinical development of Vernakalant, a new antiarrhythmic agent developed for the treatment of recent onset of atrial fibrillation currently pending approval by the FDA. Prior to that Dr. Plouvier worked as a post-doctoral fellow in the chemistry department of the University of Alberta. He obtained his PhD at the University of Lille, France in 1991 and a master in drug design from the Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique de Lille, France. Dr. Plouvier is co-author of 12 publications and 6 patents. Dr. Plouvier took additional courses and obtained his certification as Project Manager Professional in March 2008.
About the Company:
Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM) is an emerging biotech company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel drug compounds. The current focus is on treatments for Type II Diabetes and Obesity. Sirona Biochem has entered into a license agreement with TFChem S.A.R.L., a Drug Discovery company based in Rouen, France. TFChem licenses its technology of fluorinated carbohydrate mimics: GlycoMim®, and products in development to biotech companies. The license agreement with TFChem provides for research and development of new compounds known as S.G.L.T. inhibitors. S.G.L.T. inhibitors are a new and exciting class of compounds which have great promise and potential to treat both diabetes and obesity.
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