COUR Pharmaceuticals Announces Leadership Transition for Strategic Growth Objectives
2024年8月1日 - 9:00PM
COUR Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotechnology company
developing first-in-class, disease-modifying therapies designed to
induce antigen-specific tolerance for immune-mediated diseases,
today announced that as part of a leadership succession plan, John
J. Puisis will transition his responsibilities as President and
Chief Executive Officer of COUR to the Company’s Chief Operating
Officer, Dannielle Appelhans, effective September 1, 2024. Mr.
Puisis, who founded and led COUR through multiple INDs, clinical
studies and strategic partnerships, will continue to serve in his
role on the Company’s Board of Directors and will be an advisor to
COUR through the end of 2024. Ms. Appelhans has also been appointed
to the COUR Board of Directors.
“Leading COUR since its inception over a decade
ago has been a highlight of my career,” stated Mr. Puisis. “With
the support of industry-leading partners and top-tier investors,
the COUR team has transformed a serendipitous discovery in the labs
at Northwestern University into a clinically validated nanoparticle
platform poised to deliver first-in-class, disease-modifying
treatments for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Since securing
our $105 million Series A earlier this year, we’ve solidified the
Company's foundation by filling critical management roles,
expanding our board of directors, and fortifying key partnerships.
The Company is now stronger than ever before. Given Dannielle’s
significant contributions since joining COUR in 2023, and her
extensive experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, I am
confident in her vision for COUR’s future and her ability to lead
the Company as CEO through the next phases of growth and expansion.
I look forward to collaborating with Dannielle to ensure a seamless
transition of leadership responsibilities and am excited to serve
alongside her on COUR’s Board of Directors.”
Ms. Appelhans joined COUR as COO in 2023 and has
since led R&D, technical development, clinical operations,
quality, technical operations and has played a pivotal role in
shaping recent corporate strategy. Before joining COUR, she served
as CEO of Rubius Therapeutics, where she previously held the
position of COO. Since 2022, she has served on the Board of
Directors and as a member of the Nominating and Governance
Committee for Generation Bio Co. Prior to Rubius, Ms. Appelhans
held progressive roles at Novartis, culminating in her tenure as
Senior Vice President, Head of Global Supply Chain across all
divisions, and later as Senior Vice President of Technical
Operations and Chief Technical Officer at Novartis Gene Therapies,
where she oversaw late-stage development, clinical and commercial
manufacturing, supply chain, and all supporting operational
functions for the gene therapy unit. Earlier in her career, she
served as a Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company and
held roles of increasing responsibility at Eli Lilly and
Company.
Ms. Appelhans earned a Master of Science in
mechanical engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s
School of Engineering, an MBA from Massachusetts Institute of
Technology’s Sloan School of Management, and a Bachelor of Science
in Engineering in mechanical engineering from the University of
Michigan.
Ms. Appelhans remarked, “I joined COUR in 2023
because I saw tremendous potential in the Company’s platform
technology. After over a year of working closely with the team,
it’s evident to me that our nanoparticle approach to
antigen-specific immune tolerance is at the forefront of the
industry. As CEO, I am eager to build upon the momentum of our
recent achievements, expanding COUR’s portfolio and advancing our
clinical programs to pivotal stages, with the ultimate aim of
delivering new life-changing treatments to patients.”
“On behalf of the COUR Board of Directors, I
extend heartfelt gratitude to John for his more than 10 years of
dedicated service to COUR Pharmaceuticals. Under his leadership,
COUR has established extensive capabilities and assembled a strong
leadership team laying the groundwork for future success. John’s
contributions have been instrumental in shaping COUR into the
organization it is today,” said Robert F. Carey, Lead Independent
Director of the COUR Board of Directors. “Looking ahead, we are
excited to announce Ms. Appelhans’ transition to the role of CEO.
With our recent fundraising success and the anticipated clinical
progress of our wholly owned programs for Myasthenia Gravis and
Type 1 Diabetes, we believe COUR is well-positioned for continued
success.”
About COUR Pharmaceuticals:
COUR Pharmaceuticals is a clinical-stage
biotechnology company developing therapies to treat patients with
autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. COUR’s first-in-class
therapies are based on our proprietary antigen-specific immune
tolerance platform and are designed to reprogram the immune system
to address the underlying root cause of immune-mediated diseases.
Data from multiple clinical and preclinical programs have
demonstrated the ability of COUR’s product candidates to induce
antigen-specific immune tolerance and have the potential to treat a
wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
COUR is currently enrolling patients in a phase
1b/2a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical study
in Myasthenia Gravis and developing a product candidate in Type 1
Diabetes in addition to having partnered products in Celiac Disease
(with Takeda Pharmaceuticals), and Primary Biliary Cholangitis
(with Ironwood Pharmaceuticals).
For more information, please visit
www.courpharma.com
ContactsFor Investor
RelationsBrian Bock, Chief Financial
Officerbbock@courpharma.com
For MediaJason Bracojbraco@lifescicomms.com