SAN DIEGO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jecure Therapeutics, a biotechnology company with novel drug discovery programs targeting non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis, today announced that Gretchen Bain, Ph.D., has joined the company as its Vice President of Biology.
Dr. Bain is an accomplished biologist with more than fifteen years of experience in both biotech and pharmaceutical companies. She has deep expertise in the development of small-molecule drug candidates and has directed preclinical programs for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), NASH, systemic sclerosis, and chronic kidney disease indications. Previous to Jecure, she was an Executive Director of Biology at PharmAkea Therapeutics and at Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she contributed to the discovery and development of multiple clinical-phase drugs to treat fibrosis.
“We are thrilled to welcome Gretchen to our management team,” said Dr. Jeffrey Stafford, President and CEO of Jecure Therapeutics. “Her expertise in anti-fibrotics discovery research and clinical biomarker development is immediately impactful to Jecure’s goal of advancing first-in-class NLRP3 inhibitors into the clinic.”
Dr. Bain holds a Ph.D. in molecular and cellular biology from the University of California, San Diego, where she also completed a postdoctoral fellowship.
About Jecure Therapeutics
Jecure is focused on the discovery of novel therapeutics for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis. Jecure’s scientific founder is Dr. Ariel Feldstein, Division Chief of Gastroenterology at UCSD School of Medicine and a leading physician scientist in hepatology. With operations in the biotech hub of San Diego, California, Jecure combines emerging NASH biology from Dr. Feldstein’s lab, a proprietary liver disease platform, and an elite discovery team of veteran pharma/biotech scientists. Jecure’s lead program has identified small molecule inhibitors of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a novel target and pro-inflammatory driver of NASH. Jecure is backed by top-tier life science investor Versant Ventures. For more information, please visit www.jecuretx.com.
About Versant Ventures
Versant Ventures is a leading global healthcare investment firm committed to helping exceptional entrepreneurs build the next generation of great healthcare companies. The firm invests across the healthcare sector and at all stages of company development, with an emphasis on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics. With $2.3 billion under management and offices in North America and Europe, Versant has built a team with deep investment, operating, and scientific expertise that enables a hands-on approach to company building. Since the firm’s founding in 1999, more than 65 Versant companies have achieved successful acquisitions or IPOs. For more information, please visit www.versantventures.com.
