PuriCore plc, an emerging specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on leveraging its proprietary immunomodulatory technology, announced the appointment of Dr. Christian Peters to the newly created managerial position of Chief Medical Officer (CMO), with effect from 25 April 2016. This appointment reflects PuriCore’s recently announced new strategic direction to develop investigational new drug (“IND”) applications for its small molecule therapies in inflammatory diseases.

Dr. Peters joins PuriCore from Therakos, Inc. where he was CMO since 2013; he was among the team that negotiated its recent sale to Mallinckrodt for $1.3 billion.  He has 15 years of successful clinical development and commercialisation experience in a number of senior leadership positions in the pharmaceutical industry, and more than 10 years of clinical and research experience in academic settings and with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Most recently, as CMO of Therakos, Dr. Peters oversaw corporate strategy and execution for Global Clinical Development, Regulatory Affairs, Pharmacoeconomics and Medical/Scientific Affairs of the company’s integrated systems for extracorporeal photophoresis, an immunomodulatory therapy approved by the US FDA.

Previously, he held a number of senior positions at CSL Behring, where he was responsible for Medical Affairs, US Commercial Operations and Clinical R&D.  Earlier in his career, Dr. Peters was responsible for Global Clinical R&D at Therakos, then owned by Johnson & Johnson, following roles at CSL Behring, and its predecessor Aventis Behring LLC, in Clinical R&D, Regulatory and Medical Affairs.

Dr. Peters has extensive experience with the FDA, EMA, other European authorities and the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency ranging from pre-IND meetings through Phase I/II/III clinical trials and approval.  Dr. Peters has been instrumental in obtaining FDA approval for seven products to date.

Dr. Peters completed a medical externship at Duke University Medical School, Department of Pediatrics, Allergy and Immunology and Internal Medicine, residencies and fellowships at the Fogarty International Center for Advancing Science for Global Health at the NIH, the Free University of Berlin, Division of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and at the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Microbiology.  He received his M.D. and Ph.D. in cellular immunology from the Free University Berlin Medical School in Germany.

Alex Martin, CEO of PuriCore, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Peters to PuriCore.  Christian’s extensive clinical development expertise and significant research and commercialisation experience in immunology and immunomodulatory therapies adds a high calibre of talent and depth to our current leadership team.  He will play a key role in helping us to advance our product candidates into clinical stage development.”