– UK, Canterbury – Ziarco Group Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company focusing on inflammatory skin diseases, today announced the addition of Mike Grey to its Board of Directors as an independent director. Mr. Grey is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Reneo Pharmaceuticals, a privately held biotechnology company, and a Venture Partner at Pappas Ventures. From February 2011 until its acquisition by Shire plc in May 2014, Mr. Grey served as Founder, President, and CEO of Lumena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biotechnology company focused on developing novel treatments for rare liver diseases.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mike to Ziarco’s Board of Directors,” said Ed Mathers, Chairman of Ziarco. “His extensive experience and insight as both a board member and a top-level executive in the biopharmaceutical industry will certainly prove invaluable to Ziarco as we advance our lead compounds, ZPL-389 and ZPL-521, through Proof-of Concept studies.”
During Mr. Grey’s tenure at Lumena, the Company raised $75 million, licensed two clinical stage assets, and initiated seven Phase 2 studies of its lead compound. Previously, Mr. Grey served as CEO at several biopharmaceutical companies, including Auspex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., SGX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Trega Biosciences, Inc. Earlier in his career, Mr. Grey served as President of BioChem Therapeutic Inc., President and Chief Operating Officer of Ansan, Inc., and held various positions of increasing responsibility at Glaxo Inc. and Glaxo Holdings plc.
“I am delighted to join Ziarco’s board, as the Company has a strong leadership team and promising lead compounds for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and psoriasis,” said Mr. Grey. “I look forward to working with the Ziarco team to help grow the Company and propel its product candidates forward.”
Mr. Grey is currently on the boards of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc., Horizon Pharma plc, Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. and Selventa, Inc. He holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Nottingham.
About Ziarco
Ziarco is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing innovative therapeutics targeting inflammatory skin diseases. The company’s lead compounds are ZPL-389, an oral histamine H4 receptor antagonist being studied for atopic dermatitis, and ZPL-521, a cPLA2 inhibitor being studied for psoriasis. A clinical Proof-of-Concept study of ZPL-389 is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2015. A patient study of the topical formulation of ZPL-521 for psoriasis is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2016. In addition, the company has a histamine H3 receptor antagonist programme possessing CNS-sparing properties that is in advanced preclinical development for nasal congestion, as well as an early-stage spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitor programme suitable for topical administration with potential in several inflammatory diseases. Ziarco investors include Biotechnology Value Fund L.P. and other affiliates of BVF Partners L.P., Pfizer Venture Investments, New Enterprise Associates, Lundbeckfond Ventures and Amgen Ventures.
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