PHENOMIX APPOINTS JULIE CHERRINGTON, PH.D. AS PRESIDENT OF AUSTRALIAN OPERATIONS
San Diego, CA and Canberra, Australia (November 13, 2003) — Phenomix, Inc., a discovery company using whole animal technology to rapidly develop new treatments for disease, today announced the appointment of Julie M. Cherrington, Ph.D., as president of its operations in Canberra, Australia. Dr. Cherrington joins Phenomix as the company advances its compounds in immune disorders and metabolic syndrome towards preclinical development. She was formerly the vice president of preclinical research and exploratory development at SUGEN, a Pfizer company.
While at SUGEN Dr. Cherrington was responsible for developing clinical programs to show proof of concept for the company’s drug candidates. Additionally, she created a preclinical pharmacology group and streamlined the transition of product candidates from the laboratory to the clinic. Following Pharmacia’s acquisition of SUGEN, Dr. Cherrington also served three years on the Pharmacia Exploratory Development Committee, a governance committee responsible for guiding all Pharmacia programs from late stage discovery through clinical proofof- concept studies.
Prior to her tenure at SUGEN, Dr. Cherrington held a number of increasingly senior positions at Gilead Sciences, culminating in her position as director of virology. At Gilead, she investigated the mechanisms of viral drug resistance and was involved in the discovery, clinical development, regulatory approval and commercialization of several antiviral drugs. Dr. Cherrington has co-authored more than 70 peer-reviewed scientific papers. She holds bachelor's and master’s degrees from the University of California, Davis, and completed her graduate work in microbiology at the University of Minnesota and Stanford University.
"Julie is an expert at handling the issues that emerge between late stage preclinical development and the onset of clinical trials, which I know first-hand from her work during our joint time at SUGEN. I am delighted that she will be joining the Phenomix team," said Laura K. Shawver, Ph.D., president and CEO of Phenomix. "We plan to make the most of her expertise in linking discovery and clinical development as we develop lead compounds for metabolic syndrome and immune disorders."
"I'm excited to have the chance to join Phenomix and help to shape its clinical development processes," said Dr. Cherrington. "My interest was piqued by Phenomix’s ability to rapidly generate mouse models of disease, which may allow us to take a clinical shortcut by testing for efficacy and toxicity early in the discovery process."
About Phenomix Corporation
Phenomix Corporation uses whole animal technology to rapidly discover and develop new treatments for disease. By generating detailed physiological data in a mammalian system, Phenomix provides meaningful biological insight that allows earlier and better informed decisions across the discovery and development process. The company’s unique approach drives Phenomix’ programs in immune disease and metabolic syndrome and provides the basis for value-creating collaborations. The company is based in San Diego, California and Canberra, Australia. For more information, visit www.phenomix.com.
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