THUNDER BAY, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitomics, world leader in research and development of mitochondrial genome-based products to improve clinical insight and therapeutic decisions, announced today that it has added two seasoned executives to its leadership team. Luis Martin, Ph.D., has joined Mitomics as chief commercial officer, leading the company’s collaboration efforts for its Mitomic Test pipeline, while also managing the company’s regulatory affairs. Stephen S. Galliker, a highly experienced financial executive, has joined as a member of the Mitomics’ board of directors.
“Luis is a welcome addition to our management team, and his deep commercial experience is particularly valuable as we prepare to launch our flagship product, the Prostate Core Mitomic Test™, this quarter,” said Robert Poulter, president and chief executive officer, Mitomics. “Likewise, Stephen is an invaluable addition to our board, providing important financial counsel during this period of growth and evolution for Mitomics.”
Dr. Martin brings to Mitomics more than 20 years of experience in senior management positions in the biotechnology industry. Prior to joining Mitomics, Dr. Martin served as the director for product development at PREVENT, a national center of excellence for the commercialization of novel vaccine technologies. Dr. Martin has also served as managing director and founder of Lumar Management Consulting Inc. (LMCI), a company providing operational management and executive mentoring to emerging biotechnology companies. Dr. Martin previously held various senior management positions at biotechnology companies including director of research and development at Arius Research Inc.; vice president, research and development at GENSEL Biotechnologies Inc.; and director of immunobiology at Biomira Inc. Dr. Martin holds a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Waterloo, an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in cell biology from the University of Toronto.
Mr. Galliker brings more than 40 years’ experience in finance and accounting to the Mitomics board of directors. He currently serves on the board of directors of RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company developing RNA interference (RNAi)–based therapeutics, and previously served as a member of the board of directors of Osteotech, Inc., an innovator in biologic, biomaterial and device systems for musculoskeletal surgery, until its sale to Medtronic, Inc. Most recently, Mr. Galliker was chief financial officer and executive vice president of finance and administration at Dyax Corp, a biopharmaceutical company, until his retirement in 2008. Prior to that, he served as chief financial officer and in other senior operating positions at a variety of technology and medical product companies including Excel Switching Corp.; UltraCision, Inc.; Tylink Communications/Avanti Communications; Community Care Systems, Inc.; and Sippican, Inc. Mr. Galliker is a certified public accountant and received a B.S. from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
About the Prostate Core Mitomic Test™
Mitomics has developed a portfolio of molecular tests using its proprietary Mitomic Technology for the detection of large-scale mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions. The company recently introduced its novel, paradigm-shifting Prostate Core Mitomic Test to detect prostate cancer in high risk men, without the need for further invasive biopsy procedures. The Prostate Core Mitomic Test is based on the science of mtDNA, a revolutionary approach to testing. The unique characteristics of mitochondria, structures within the cell responsible for energy production, make it a highly accurate system for detecting tumor cells.
Targeted at negative biopsy outcomes, Prostate Core Mitomic Test is a laboratory assay for the accurate, molecular definition of non-malignant prostate needle biopsy specimens as to their risk of being in proximity to a tumor. It determines the presence of malignant cells by detecting underlying molecular alterations in normal appearing tissue. This can be indicative of the presence of a tumor which was missed by the biopsy process. Prostate Core Mitomic Test uses existing prostate biopsy tissue, negating the need for an additional biopsy procedure, and it is performed quickly and easily on the original biopsy through a simple lab test.
About Mitomics
Mitomics (formerly Genesis Genomics Inc.) is the world leader in the research and development of mtDNA based biomarkers – a new and innovative approach to screening, diagnosis and management of cancer and other disease states. Leveraging its unparalleled insights into the role of mitochondria in cancer, the company is developing an extensive and proprietary portfolio of molecular tests addressing significant unmet needs in oncology and gynecology, including those related to prostate, breast, lung, colorectal, ovarian, endometrial, cervical, bladder, testicular, and skin cancers, as well as endometriosis. In addition to its Prostate Core Mitomic Test™, Mitomics plans to launch several other breakthrough molecular tests based on its Mitomic Technology™ over the next two years. The company is headquartered in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. For more information, please visit www.mitomicsinc.com.