Experienced Biotech Leader To Guide Company As Therapies Enter Clinical Trials
(PRWEB) April 27, 2017 — Los Angeles – Vault Pharma, an immunology-focused biotechnology company
developing precision therapies for cancer and infectious diseases, named Oliver Foellmer as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Vault Pharma is developing a unique therapeutics platform using the body’s own naturally occurring vault protein particles found abundantly in human cells to activate the immune system against cancer cells, bacteria and viruses. The vault particle was discovered by Vault Pharma Founder Dr. Leonard Rome, a Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
“Oliver is the right leader at the right time for Vault Pharma as the company transitions into the commercial phase of its corporate lifecycle development,” said Mr. Michael Laznicka, Chairman of the Board at Vault Pharma. “Oliver brings the necessary leadership and experience to our company which will soon have one of its primary therapies entering Phase I clinical trials.”
Mr. Foellmer joined Vault Pharma in 2014 as Chief Operating Officer. He brings more than 23 years of experience in the biotechnology industry. Previously, Mr. Foellmer lead Capricor, Inc., a cardiac regenerative medicine company, as its President and CEO. Mr. Foellmer was instrumental in Capricor’s transition from a Johns Hopkins University project to a clinical-stage biotechnology company.
“Vault Pharma is on the leading edge of science behind immunotherapy which is transforming cancer and infectious disease treatments and delivering better outcomes for patients of all ages,” said Mr. Foellmer. “It is a privilege to work with the brilliant scientists and clinicians at Vault Pharma to take therapies from the laboratory to the bedside.”
Vault Pharma is expected to introduce its lead drug candidate, VPI-101, into Phase I clinical trials in 2017. A potential cancer immunotherapy treatment, VPI-101 has shown effectiveness in lung cancer, glioblastoma (brain tumors) and melanoma. VPI-101 successfully completed preclinical animal efficacy and active ingredient phase I safety trials.
