Enterprise Therapeutics appoints Dr John Ford as CEO
Brighton, UK – October 17, 2016 – Enterprise Therapeutics Ltd, a drug discovery company dedicated to the research and development of novel therapies for the treatment of respiratory diseases, today announced that it has appointed Dr John Ford as CEO with immediate effect.
Enterprise Therapeutics is developing novel muco-regulatory therapies for patients suffering with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Cystic Fibrosis (CF), and severe asthma. To achieve this the Company is targeting mechanisms that increase the clearance of mucus or reduces levels of mucus production in order to alleviate the symptoms and complications associated with respiratory disease.
Dr Ford is a successful biotechnology entrepreneur who has co-founded Xention, Ario Pharma and Metrion Biosciences. Recently, he was a member of the Executive Team at Dezima that developed TA-8995 for dyslipidaemia and later sold the company to Amgen in 2015 for up to $1.55b. He obtained his BSc and PhD at the University of Leeds, where he worked on the structure and function of TRP channels. Dr Ford has over 18 years’ ion channel research, drug discovery and drug development experience.
Commenting on the appointment, Dr Peter Finan, Chairman Enterprise Therapeutics, said: “John’s experience in ion channels, drug development, and biotech fundraising position him uniquely to lead Enterprise Therapeutics moving forward. His expertise will complement the existing team and we are thrilled to have him on board.”
Dr John Ford commented: “I am delighted to have joined Enterprise Therapeutics at an exciting time for the company. Respiratory disease remains an area of high unmet medical especially in the area of Cystic Fibrosis where existing treatments do not treat all patients. Our mission is to discover new disease modifying therapies that target the underlying mechanisms of mucus congestion, which will reduce the frequency of lung infections and improve patient quality of life. I look forward to working with the team and our investors in this important next stage of growth.”.
About Enterprise Therapeutics
Enterprise Therapeutics is an early stage drug discovery company formed in May 2014. Its founders have significant expertise in drug discovery, respiratory biology and ion channel pharmacology. The company benefits from a close working relationship with the School of Life Sciences at the University of Sussex. For further information please contact Professor Martin Gosling (martin@enterprisetherapeutics.com).
About Epidarex Capital
Epidarex Capital invests in early-stage, high growth life science and health technology companies in under-ventured markets within the UK and US. Epidarex was created to meet the need for more sector-specific risk capital for young companies, including spin-outs from leading research universities. The fund’s international management team has a track record of successfully partnering with top scientists and entrepreneurs to develop highly innovative products for the global healthcare market. For further information please visit www.epidarex.com
About Imperial Innovations
Innovations supports scientists and entrepreneurs in the commercialisation of their ideas through the licensing of intellectual property, by leading the formation of new companies, providing facilities in the early stages, providing investment and encouraging co-investment to accelerate development, providing operational expertise and recruiting high-calibre management teams. It also runs an incubator in London that is the initial home for many of its technology spin-outs. For further information please visit www.imperialinnovations.co.uk
About Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
CF is the most common lethal genetic disease amongst Caucasians with an estimated global patient population of 100,000. The average life expectancy, although improving, is approximately 40 years.
About Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is a chronic disease characterised by a progressive and irreversible decrease in lung function. Globally, COPD is reported to affect over 300 million people and in 2012 was the world’s third highest killer.
About Severe Asthma
Patients with severe asthma are either refractory or poorly managed by current therapies (including bronchodilators and steroids). Severe asthma patients comprise around 5% of the estimated 300 million asthma sufferers, globally.
