- Mr. Craig
Collard appointed to the Board of Directors -
VANCOUVER, May 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Sierra Oncology,
Inc. (SRRA), a late-stage drug development company focused on the
registration and commercialization of momelotinib, a JAK1, JAK2
& ACVR1 inhibitor with a potentially differentiated therapeutic
profile for the treatment of myelofibrosis, today announced the
appointment of Dr. Stephen Dilly as
President and Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2020. In addition, Dr. Dilly and Mr.
Craig Collard have been appointed to
the company's Board of Directors.
"We are delighted to welcome Dr. Dilly to Sierra and look
forward to his leadership as we continue to advance momelotinib and
start to prepare for its potential commercialization. Stephen is a
proven industry veteran with a track record of success, well-suited
to shepherd the company through this evolution. We also welcome
Craig Collard, who adds further
commercial experience to our Board at this critical stage," said
Mr. Robert Pelzer, Chairman of
Sierra Oncology. "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like
to sincerely thank Dr. Nick Glover
for his commitment and dedication to Sierra and for guiding the
renewed development of momelotinib to this late stage."
"I am excited to lead Sierra, which has already clearly defined
the regulatory path for momelotinib, launched the MOMENTUM Phase 3
trial, and positioned this unique asset as a differentiated
treatment that may address unmet needs in myelofibrosis,
representing a substantial market opportunity," said Dr. Dilly. "I
look forward to working with the Sierra team and Board of Directors
to drive this promising investigational therapy forward through its
anticipated final phase of clinical development and begin the
company's transition into a commercially focused entity."
Dr. Stephen Dilly brings three
decades of executive management experience in the biopharmaceutical
industry. Most recently, Dr. Dilly served as CEO and Board Member
of Aimmune Therapeutics. Dr. Dilly has served in executive roles at
Genentech, Chiron and SmithKline Beecham and has been associated
with the development and launch of several marketed drugs. Dr.
Dilly also currently serves on the Board of Directors of one public
biotechnology company and several private companies. He holds an
M.B.B.S. from the University of London and a Ph.D. in Cardiac Physiology from
University of London.
Mr. Craig Collard is currently
the CEO of Veloxis Pharmaceutics, Inc., a transplant focused
pharmaceutical company, now a subsidiary of Asahi Kasei after its
acquisition of Veloxis for $1.3
billion in 2020. Prior to this, he served as the CEO and
Chairman of Cornerstone Therapeutics, Inc., a pharmaceutical
company he founded in 2004, until February
2014 when the company was purchased by Chiesi
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Before founding Cornerstone, Mr. Collard
served as President and CEO of Carolina Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a
pharmaceutical company he founded in May
2003. From 1998 to 2003, Mr. Collard served in various
commercial roles at Verum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and DJ Pharma,
Inc. Mr. Collard is a member of the Board of Directors of Veloxis,
Opiant Pharmaceutics, Inc. and TerrAscend Corporation. Mr. Collard
holds a B.S. in Engineering from the Southern College of Technology
(now Southern Polytechnic State
University) in Marietta,
Georgia.
About Sierra Oncology
Sierra Oncology is a late stage
drug development company focused on achieving the successful
registration and commercialization of momelotinib, a potent,
selective and orally-bioavailable JAK1, JAK2 & ACVR1 inhibitor
with a targeted mechanism of action that enables it to address all
three key drivers of myelofibrosis. Momelotinib's differentiated
therapeutic profile encompasses robust constitutional symptom
improvements, a range of meaningful anemia benefits, including
eliminating or reducing the need for frequent blood transfusions,
and comparable spleen control to ruxolitinib. More than 1,200
subjects have received momelotinib since clinical studies began in
2009, including more than 820 patients treated for
myelofibrosis.
Sierra has launched MOMENTUM, a randomized double-blind Phase 3
clinical trial designed to enroll 180 myelofibrosis patients who
are symptomatic and anemic, and who have been treated previously
with a JAK inhibitor. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has
granted Fast Track designation to momelotinib. Momelotinib is
protected by patents anticipated to provide potential exclusivity
to 2040 in the United States and
Europe (inclusive of potential
Patent Term Extension or Supplementary Protection Certificate).
For more information, please
visit www.sierraoncology.com.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements
This
press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to,
statements regarding Sierra Oncology's expectations from current
data, anticipated clinical development activities, and potential
benefits of momelotinib. All statements other than statements of
historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking
statements. These statements are based on management's current
expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks
and uncertainties, including, among others, the risk that Sierra
Oncology's cash resources may be insufficient to fund its current
operating plans and it may be unable to raise additional capital
when needed, the risk that disruptions and impacts of COVID-19 will
be significant and lengthy, Sierra Oncology may be unable to
successfully develop and commercialize momelotinib,
momelotinib may not demonstrate safety and efficacy or
otherwise produce positive results, Sierra Oncology may experience
delays in the clinical development of momelotinib, Sierra Oncology
may be unable to acquire additional assets to build a pipeline of
additional product candidates, Sierra Oncology's third-party
manufacturers may cause its supply of materials to become limited
or interrupted or fail to be of satisfactory quantity or quality,
Sierra Oncology may be unable to obtain and enforce intellectual
property protection for its technologies and momelotinib and the
other factors described under the heading "Risk Factors" set forth
in Sierra Oncology's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission from time to time. Sierra Oncology undertakes no
obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained
herein or to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the
date hereof, other than as may be required by applicable law.
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SOURCE Sierra Oncology