CINCINNATI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2017--
Aerpio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCQB: ARPO), a biopharmaceutical company
focused on advancing first-in-class treatments for diabetic retinopathy
and other ocular diseases, announced today that Stephen Hoffman, M.D.,
Ph.D., has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective as of
December 1, 2017, and is expected to be appointed to its board of
directors as a Class I director in connection with the commencement of
his employment with Aerpio. Dr. Hoffman succeeds Dr. Joseph H. Gardner,
who will continue to serve as President and Founder of Aerpio.
“The Board is pleased to have recruited an individual with an ideal
industry background, as well as public company experience, to assume
leadership of Aerpio. Dr. Hoffman is well-positioned to lead Aerpio
successfully into the future,” said Muneer Satter, Aerpio’s Chairman of
the Board.
Dr. Hoffman joins Aerpio Pharmaceuticals from PDL BioPharma, an
investment firm that manages a portfolio of investments in companies,
products, royalty agreements and debt facilities in the biotech,
pharmaceutical and medical device industries, where he served as a
Senior Advisor since February 2014. Prior to that he served as a
Managing Director at Skyline Ventures, a venture capital firm, from 2007
to 2014 and was general partner at TVM Capital from 2003 to 2007. Prior
to TVM, he served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director
of Allos Therapeutics from 1994 to 2002, where he remained as Chairman
until its acquisition by Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 2012. Dr.
Hoffman currently serves on the board of directors of Dicerna
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: DRNA), AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
(NASDAQ: ACRX), Bicycle Therapeutics Ltd., and Palleon Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. Dr. Hoffman completed a fellowship in clinical oncology and a
residency and fellowship in dermatology from 1990 to 1994, both at the
University of Colorado, and holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Northwestern
University and an M.D. from the University of Colorado School of
Medicine. He is also board-certified in Dermatology.
“I’m very excited to join Aerpio and work with the existing management
team to develop and commercialize products affecting the Tie2 pathway,”
said Dr. Hoffman. “We believe the Tie2 pathway represents an important
target not only in ophthalmology, but in the pathogenesis of 'leaky
vasculature' and which produces significant morbidity in patients with
diabetes and other medical conditions. By activating Tie2 we believe we
could possibly have a major impact in diabetes care, beginning by
slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy to diabetic macular
edema and ultimately, blindness.”
“Dr. Hoffman’s entrepreneurial background, business savvy, industry
experience and strong relationships within the investment community make
him an excellent choice to lead Aerpio going forward,” stated Dr.
Gardner. “Dr. Hoffman adds management depth, as well as technical
strength, which will be critical as we progress our drug candidates.”
About Aerpio Pharmaceuticals
Aerpio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on
advancing first-in-class treatments for ocular diseases. The Company’s
lead compound, AKB-9778, is a small molecule activator of the Tie2
pathway and is in clinical development for the treatment of
non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy. For more information please
visit www.aerpio.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Statements in
this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things,
the future plans and directions for the Company, the appointment of Dr.
Hoffman as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the expected
appointment as a member of its board of directors, the continued role of
Dr. Gardner as President and Founder of the Company, and the development
of the Company’s product candidates. Actual results could differ from
those projected in any forward-looking statements due to several risk
factors. Such factors include, among others, the ability to raise the
additional funding needed to continue to develop AKB-9778 or other
product development plans, the inherent uncertainties associated with
the FDA and drug development process, competition in the industry in
which the Company operates and overall market conditions. These
forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press
release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the
forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results
could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements,
except as required by law. Investors should consult all the information
set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factor disclosure set
forth in the reports and other documents the Company files with the SEC
available at www.sec.gov.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171010005875/en/
Source: Aerpio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Investor & Media:
Aerpio
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Dhaval Desai
Vice President of
Medical Affairs
ddesai@aerpio.com
or
Burns
McClellan, on behalf of Aerpio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Media:
Justin
Jackson
jjackson@burnsmc.com
or
Investors:
Ami
Bavishi
abavishi@burnsmc.com
