SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cortexyme, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRTX), a company advancing a pivotal trial in Alzheimer's disease on schedule to be announced in Q4 2021 and a pipeline of therapeutics for degenerative diseases, today announced a series of leadership appointments to support the continued advancement and commercial planning of atuzaginstat, as well as the company’s pipeline expansion and regulatory affairs capabilities.
“Expanding Cortexyme’s leadership team strengthens our overall operations and brings additional depth and expertise to the company as we advance atuzaginstat’s development and related commercial planning, bolster our regulatory capabilities, and grow our clinical pipeline,” said Casey Lynch, Cortexyme’s chief executive officer, co-founder, and chair. “2020 was a year of significant accomplishment for the company. We anticipate achieving critical milestones in 2021 as we approach important data readouts in Alzheimer’s and periodontal disease at the end of the year, further validate the role of gingipains in degenerative disease, and embark on new potential therapeutic indications such as Parkinson’s disease.”
Chris Lowe has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer from his prior role as Chief Financial Officer, a position he held since joining the company in January 2019. Mr. Lowe has over two decades of financial leadership, business development, and operational expertise. Mr. Lowe’s senior management experience includes experience as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Business Officer, and Chief Executive Officer for private and public life sciences companies including Asthmatx, Peninsula Pharmaceuticals, SentreHEART, and Anthera Pharmaceuticals. Additionally, he currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Vincerx Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company.
Ted Monohon has been promoted to Chief Accounting Officer. Mr. Monohon joined Cortexyme in May 2019 as the company’s Vice President, Finance. He has more than 20 years of financial experience spanning roles at private equity, publicly and privately held companies, and major banks. Mr. Monohon’s expertise includes key finance functions including financial planning and forecasting, treasury/cash management, and accounting and tax functions. During his career, he completed multiple tracking stock IPOs as well as venture capital and private placement financings. He began his career with Deloitte as a senior staff auditor. Mr. Monohon is a Certified Public Accountant, and he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Drew Sukovich, Ph.D., RAC, joins Cortexyme as Vice President, Regulatory and Quality. Dr. Sukovich has more than 25 years of experience in the discovery, development, and post-approval phases of drug development. Most recently, Dr. Sukovich was a consultant for various biotech companies and previously held regulatory affairs roles of increasing responsibility at Genentech, BioMarin and Zogenix. He has extensive knowledge and hands-on experience on Investigational New Drug (IND) and global clinical trial (CTA) applications, New Drug (NDA) and Marketing Authorisation (MAA) Applications, Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions including Fast Track and Breakthrough Therapy Designations, and REMS. He has successfully led meetings with global health authorities and FDA across multiple therapeutic areas including neurology, oncology, and metabolic disease. Dr. Sukovich received his Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Vermont, and his B.A. from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Commenting on the new appointments, Ms. Lynch continued: “I’m excited to add Drew Sukovich to the Cortexyme team, and for Chris Lowe and Ted Monohon to take on larger roles with increased responsibilities. We’re making these appointments at an important time for Cortexyme as we plan for top-line data from the GAIN Trial in the fourth quarter of 2021, ready new small molecule inhibitors for potential IND filings, and continue to publish evidence connecting gingipain proteases secreted by P. gingivalis to degenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.”
About Cortexyme
Cortexyme, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRTX) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering upstream therapeutic approaches designed to improve the lives of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other degenerative diseases. Based upon the evidence generated to date, Cortexyme is currently advancing its lead therapeutic candidate, atuzaginstat (COR388), in the GAIN Trial, an ongoing Phase 2/3 clinical trial in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Cortexyme is targeting a specific, infectious pathogen found in the brain and other organs and tied to degeneration and inflammation in humans and animal models. To learn more about Cortexyme, visit www.cortexyme.com or follow @Cortexyme on Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release contain “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “estimate,” “project,” “outlook,” “forecast” or other similar words. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our business plans, strategy, timeline, prospects and milestone expectations; the timing and success of our clinical trials and related data; the potential of atuzaginstat to treat Alzheimer’s disease, periodontal disease, Parkinson’s disease and other potential indications; the timing of announcements and updates relating to our clinical trials and related data; the potential therapeutic benefits, safety and efficacy of our product candidate or library of compounds; statements about our ability to obtain, and the timing relating to, and regulatory submissions and approvals with respect to our drug product candidate. Forward-looking statements are based on Cortexyme’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from what we expect. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 16, 2020, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 12, 2020, and other reports as filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of this date, and Cortexyme undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
