Gemmus Pharma Adds Life Science Industry Experts to Board of Directors
Daryl Faulds, 415-978-2151orJennifer Larson, 415-725-2017
Gemmus Pharma Inc. a privately held biotechnology company developing an improved host-targeted treatment for flu, today announced the appointment of three new directors, Christopher Dunn, M.D. and Louis (Larry) H. Miller Jr., and Independent Director Marc Rubin, M.D. to its Board of Directors.
"We are delighted to assemble a Board of Directors composed of life sciences industry veterans to move Gemmus’ influenza treatment program forward to an IND submission," said Daryl Faulds, Ph.D., CEO of Gemmus. “The new directors bring high-level start-up company and pharmaceutical executive experience, as well as clinical expertise to the Board.”
Christopher Dunn, M.D., is an original member of the Life Science Angels with a track record of success serving on the Boards of several medical start-ups. Dr. Dunn received his medical degree from Stanford University Medical School and completed his medical training at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Dr. Dunn practices Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Larry Miller is an Executive in Residence at Innovation Works based in Pittsburgh, PA with over 20 years experience in operations, finance and product development at medical companies. Prior to joining Innovation Works, Larry was President and CEO of Biomec, a privately held technology accelerator and investment company. Previously, Larry was President of the Healthcare Products group at Picker International and Philips Medical Systems, a $600M distributor of radiology supplies. Larry Miller received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from the Wharton School.
Marc Rubin, M.D., is Executive Chairman of Titan Pharmaceuticals and previously served as President and Chief Executive. Prior to Titan, Dr. Rubin served as Head of Global Research and Development for Bayer Schering Pharma, was a member of the Executive Committee of Bayer Healthcare and a member of the Executive Board of Schering AG since first joining the company in October 2003. Additionally, he served as Chairman of Schering Berlin Inc. and was President of Berlex Pharmaceuticals, a division of Schering AG. From 1990 until August 2003, Dr. Rubin was with GlaxoSmithKline overseeing clinical and commercial development programs in the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America, including the development of the influenza antiviral drug Relenza. Dr. Rubin holds an M.D. from Cornell University Medical College. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Curis Inc, Galectin Therapeutics, FirstString Research, The Rogosin Institute and Everybody Wins!.
“I am very pleased to be joining Gemmus’ Board and along with Dr. Dunn and Larry Miller, I believe that the company’s approach to tackling potentially life-threatening flu symptoms holds enormous promise,” said Marc Rubin, M.D.
Gemmus is developing a drug that decreases the severity of flu symptoms by modulating the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This approach avoids the development of viral resistance and the limited treatment window associated with current antiviral therapies that focus on inhibiting the production or release of the virus.
Gemmus is a privately held biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative pharmaceutical products for the treatment of infectious diseases by modulating the host response to the disease. Gemmus was founded in 2007 to develop EP2 and EP4 agonists for the treatment of influenza and in-licensed technology from a major pharmaceutical company. The company has applied for and received an SBIR(NIH) and a QTDP competitive grant and recently completed a Series A funding round. Gemmus is a member of the QB3 network, a San Francisco Bay Area Biotech incubator associated with UCSF Mission Bay campus. For more information and corporate background, please visit: .