NEW YORK, April 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Petra Pharma Corporation ("Petra"), a leader in phosphoinositide (PI) signaling pathway inhibition, today announces the appointment of Albert S. Yu, M.D. to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Clive Bertram to Head of Corporate Development. Both appointments report to Petra's President and CEO, Brian O'Callaghan.
"These appointments follow our recent transformation to a clinical stage company, and mark an exciting time for Petra. Our leadership team is continuing to evolve and is now better equipped to advance our business priorities and scientific innovations. Dr. Yu's appointment to Chief Medical Officer underscores the importance of clinical innovation to Petra and our unwavering commitment to assisting patients suffering from PIK3CA-mutated tumors. Mr. Bertram's commercialization expertise adds a critically important perspective to our organization at a pivotal time," said President and CEO, Brian O'Callaghan.
Dr. Yu brings nearly three decades of clinical development experience spanning multiple therapeutic areas. Yu previously served as the CMO at Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Vice President of Clinical Development at Omeros Corporation, and as Senior Director of Clinical Affairs at ICOS Corporation. He initiated the clinical evaluation of idelalalisib (Zydelig®), the first product approval for a phosphoinositide kinase inhibitor, as well as introduced more than 12 drug candidates into clinical development. Dr. Yu's expertise in phosphoinositide kinase inhibitors is instrumental to Petra's efforts to increase tumor response for patients with PIK3CA-mutated tumors.
Mr. Bertram brings more than 25 years of pharmaceutical, biotech, and global life science experience to Petra. Bertram previously held Chief Commercial Officer roles at Sonrgy, Inc. and Sangart, as well as senior roles at Pharmion Ltd., Chiron Corporation, Celltech, and Eli Lilly and Company. With Petra's recent acceleration to a Phase 2 clinical stage company, Bertram's commercial expertise will be invaluable.
Petra recently announced a transformational in-licensing deal enabling the company to target PIK3CA-mutated solid tumors; the PI3K signaling pathway is the most frequently mutated pathway in human cancer. Petra plans to initiate a Phase 1b/2 study in late 2019 to advance pioneering research and insights in PI signaling pathways with a focus on PI3KCA-mutated solid tumors.
About Petra Pharma Corporation Petra, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, is a leader in phosphoinositide (PI) signaling pathway inhibition for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases. PI signaling pathways play a central role in a variety of important cellular processes, including cell division, growth, trafficking and signaling, and impacting human health. Petra was founded in 2016 to advance the cutting-edge research of Dr. Lewis Cantley from Weill Cornell Medical Center and Dr. Nathanael Gray from Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. For more information, visit https://petrapharmacorp.com/.
Media Relations: Kelly Zekas [email protected]
Advertisement
"These appointments follow our recent transformation to a clinical stage company, and mark an exciting time for Petra. Our leadership team is continuing to evolve and is now better equipped to advance our business priorities and scientific innovations. Dr. Yu's appointment to Chief Medical Officer underscores the importance of clinical innovation to Petra and our unwavering commitment to assisting patients suffering from PIK3CA-mutated tumors. Mr. Bertram's commercialization expertise adds a critically important perspective to our organization at a pivotal time," said President and CEO, Brian O'Callaghan.
Advertisement
Dr. Yu brings nearly three decades of clinical development experience spanning multiple therapeutic areas. Yu previously served as the CMO at Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Vice President of Clinical Development at Omeros Corporation, and as Senior Director of Clinical Affairs at ICOS Corporation. He initiated the clinical evaluation of idelalalisib (Zydelig®), the first product approval for a phosphoinositide kinase inhibitor, as well as introduced more than 12 drug candidates into clinical development. Dr. Yu's expertise in phosphoinositide kinase inhibitors is instrumental to Petra's efforts to increase tumor response for patients with PIK3CA-mutated tumors.
Mr. Bertram brings more than 25 years of pharmaceutical, biotech, and global life science experience to Petra. Bertram previously held Chief Commercial Officer roles at Sonrgy, Inc. and Sangart, as well as senior roles at Pharmion Ltd., Chiron Corporation, Celltech, and Eli Lilly and Company. With Petra's recent acceleration to a Phase 2 clinical stage company, Bertram's commercial expertise will be invaluable.
Petra recently announced a transformational in-licensing deal enabling the company to target PIK3CA-mutated solid tumors; the PI3K signaling pathway is the most frequently mutated pathway in human cancer. Petra plans to initiate a Phase 1b/2 study in late 2019 to advance pioneering research and insights in PI signaling pathways with a focus on PI3KCA-mutated solid tumors.
About Petra Pharma Corporation Petra, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, is a leader in phosphoinositide (PI) signaling pathway inhibition for the treatment of cancer and other serious diseases. PI signaling pathways play a central role in a variety of important cellular processes, including cell division, growth, trafficking and signaling, and impacting human health. Petra was founded in 2016 to advance the cutting-edge research of Dr. Lewis Cantley from Weill Cornell Medical Center and Dr. Nathanael Gray from Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. For more information, visit https://petrapharmacorp.com/.
Media Relations: Kelly Zekas [email protected]
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/petra-pharma-strengthens-management-team-with-recent-leadership-appointments-300822615.html
SOURCE Petra Pharma Corporation
