CMP Therapeutics Appoints Dr Neill Moray Mackenzie as CEO
By Cmp Therapeutics, PRNEWednesday, July 28, 2010
LONDON, July 29, 2010 - CMP Therapeutics (CMPT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr
Neill Moray Mackenzie to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Dr Mackenzie
brings to CMPT a long record of executive board level management within the
biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries at companies including Cambridge
Genetics Ltd, Oxford Biomedica plc (an LSE listed company), Avidex Ltd (now
Immunocore) and most recently as the SVP for Business Development and
Corporate Strategy at Medigene AG (a Borse-listed company) and CEO of Roji
Ltd (London). In addition, Dr MacKenzie was formerly a Departmental Head in
Vaccine R&D at Wellcome and a Wellcome Lecturer in Immunology at the
University of London.
CMPT also announces the injection of a EUR1.5million convertible loan
from Inventages Venture Capital to support continuing operations and the
upcoming clinical trial of its lead product for the common cold. CMPT has
been supported solely by investments from London-based Inventages Venture
Capital and New Zealand-based BioPacificVentures since 2005.
Dr Achim Kaufhold, Chairman of CMPT said "Now is a pivotal time for CMPT
as we move into advanced clinical development for our lead product and we are
delighted to welcome Dr Mackenzie as CEO. He combines proven experience in
driving the corporate development of spin-outs from the Universities of
Cambridge and Oxford with a highly relevant academic background in immunology
and is ideally placed to ensure the rapid realisation of the value of our
ground breaking technology."
Dr Mackenzie said: "I am delighted to have been chosen for this role.
CMPT is based on unique science from the Medical Research Council's
Histochemistry Unit in the University of Oxford and has opportunities in
major therapeutic markets such as viral infection, allergy and also
functional foods. With a lead compound that has Over-The-Counter (OTC)
potential as a treatment for the common cold we hope to be ready for the
market shortly after we have completed clinical trials over the next two
years".
Dr Bruce Savage, the former CEO, leaves CMPT to concentrate on his other
portfolio companies. The Board would like to thank him for his efforts over
the years in building the Company.
About CMP Therapeutics
CMP Therapeutics, founded in 2004, is a company that develops products
for colds, flu and allergy based on b 1-3 N-acetyl glucosamine (chitin). b
1-3 N-acetyl glucosamine is extracted from natural sources. It is processed
into micro-particles (Chitin Micro-Particles or CMP) under GMP manufacturing
conditions. CMP is the active component. When administered intranasally it
has been shown to be safe in man and effective in models of disease,
including viral disease and bacterial diseases of the respiratory tract and
allergy. CMP Therapeutics has worldwide patents and patent applications
covering the uses and the manufacture of CMP for allergy, viral and bacterial
disease, and as a vaccine adjuvant.
About Inventages Venture Capital
Inventages Venture Capital is a fund management company specializing in
life sciences, with business offices in London, the Bahamas, Switzerland and
New Zealand. It currently manages five funds, with a total of approximately
$1.5 billion under management. The funds were raised to support companies in
the areas of pharmaceutical and biotech development, nutrition and health and
wellness with a strong focus on prevention. Portfolio companies are
intensively supported and can leverage the depth of business experience and
strong relationships that the Inventages partners have with the global
pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and biotech industries.
About BioPacificVentures
BioPacificVentures is one of the world's largest food, nutrition and
agriculturally focused venture capitalists, specializing in the convergence
of food and health with a focus on prevention, nutrition, food technology and
agbiotech. BioPacificVentures pursues attractive life science investment
opportunities with an Australasian focus and takes lead or co-investment
positions in rounds ranging from NZ$2 to NZ$10 million. Strategic and
financial investors with global reach and industry specific expertise support
BioPacificVentures.
About the Common Cold
The common cold (also known as acute viral rhinitis or acute coryza) is
extremely common. The disease affects the upper respiratory tract and is
highly contagious. There are as many as 200 viruses that may be responsible
for this condition. Symptoms including sore throat, runny nose, nasal
congestion, sneezing, cough, and headache can last from four to fourteen
days. Symptoms can be particularly severe in asthmatics, the
immunocompromised (for example those on chemotherapy) and those with
pre-existing lung conditions. Colds can exacerbate more serious upper and
lower respiratory tract infections, including acute otitis media (glue ear)
in children, and are thought to account for about 50% of all hospitalisations
for acute exacerbations of asthma in children.
The socioeconomic impact of the common cold is significant. One study
showed that adults and children in the United States experience two to six
colds per year, accounting for 75 to 100million physician visits annually at
a conservative cost of $7.7 billion. Americans spend $2.9 billion on
Over-The-Counter (OTC) remedies and another $400 million on prescription
medicines for symptomatic relief. Topical decongestants (nasal sprays)
account for $1.545 billion in sales globally. An estimated 22 to 189 million
school days are missed annually because of colds and as a result, parents
miss 126 million workdays. When combined with an additional 150 million
workdays missed by employees suffering from a cold, the total economic impact
of cold-related work loss in the USA alone exceeds $20 billion.
Contact Dr Neill Moray Mackenzie CEO CMP Therapeutics Tel: +44-(0)7770-404929 neill.mackezie@cmptherapeutics.com www.cmptherapeutics.com Media Enquiries Citigate Dewe Rogerson Chris Gardner / Helena Galilee Tel: +44-(0)207-638-9571 / +44-(0)7903-321032 chris.gardner@citigatedr.co.uk / helena.galilee@citigatedr.co.uk
Contact: Dr Neill Moray Mackenzie, CEO, CMP Therapeutics, Tel: +44-(0)7770-404929, neill.mackezie at cmptherapeutics.com, www.cmptherapeutics.com. Media Enquiries: Citigate Dewe Rogerson, Chris Gardner / Helena Galilee, Tel: +44-(0)207-638-9571 / +44-(0)7903-321032, chris.gardner at citigatedr.co.uk / helena.galilee at citigatedr.co.uk
Tags: Cmp Therapeutics, July 29, London, United Kingdom