VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Nov. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Qu Biologics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs), a unique platform of immunotherapies designed to “reboot” the body’s innate immune system, has brought on board two highly experienced biotech executives, to round out the leadership team of the company. Ms. Jennifer Archibald has joined Qu Biologics in the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to head up the company’s financial and accounting operations. Mr. Alun Rees, VP, Manufacturing, has joined the company to lead Qu Biologics’ cGMP manufacturing program. Both individuals bring a global perspective in their respective domains, which will complement the current team and contribute significantly to Qu Biologics’ ongoing growth and development. “2018 will be a very exciting year for Qu Biologics, as we roll out our next clinical trial in Crohn’s disease and, potentially, a randomized controlled clinical trial in oncology,” announced Hal Gunn, CEO. “Jennifer is going to play a pivotal role in helping to ensure that the company is well funded while Alun will oversee our manufacturing operations, both of which are critical in meeting Qu’s strategic goals. We are very privileged to have their personal strengths and breadth of professional experience join our senior management team.”
Ms. Archibald has more than 20 years of financial leadership experience across a broad range of industries including most recently, 11 years at Cardiome Pharma Corp., a Canadian Nasdaq and TSX-traded pharmaceutical company, where she served as Chief Business Operations Officer (CBOO), and prior to that, as CFO. In her role as CFO, Ms. Archibald completed multiple equity and debt financings, as well as, corporate partnerships and a strategic acquisition of a European specialty pharma company. Prior to joining Cardiome, Ms. Archibald managed the accounting operations at the corporate office of The Jim Pattison Group, the second largest private company in Canada.
“I am delighted to join Qu Biologics. It is such an exciting time for the company as it progresses into the next phase of clinical trials in the first of many important indications. It is rare to have a platform that has the potential to treat such a wide range of diseases including many types of cancers and other inflammatory conditions. I hope to make a meaningful contribution to the company as it continues to embark on a path of success.”
Ms. Archibald is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and began her career as a corporate auditor with KPMG working with major clients in a variety of industries. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia in Canada.
Mr. Rees brings more than 30 years experience of cGMP manufacturing and technical operations covering North America, Europe and Asia in both the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical industries. He has most recently been the Director of Manufacturing at STEMCELL Technologies Canada Inc. and the Director of Product Operations at QLT Inc. in Vancouver, B.C. Before relocating to Canada in 2002, Mr. Rees held management positions at both GSK and Bio Products Laboratory in the UK in the manufacture of therapeutic proteins from human deep cell culture and products from donated human blood plasma fractionation.
“It is a fantastic time to be joining Qu, as the company ramps up its cGMP manufacturing and associated operations to support its next Phase 2 randomized controlled trial in Crohn’s disease, to start in early 2018,” states Mr. Rees. “I am really looking forward to completing our drug production campaign for this trial, as well as starting to plan second generation product development and expanding our Process Development capabilities accordingly. SSIs have immense potential and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
For more information about Qu Biologics and the science behind SSIs, please visit www.qubiologics.com.
About Qu Biologics
Qu Biologics is a Vancouver-based private clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSI), a novel class of immunotherapies. SSIs are designed to stimulate an innate immune response in targeted organs or tissues to reverse the chronic inflammation underlying many conditions including cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, inflammatory lung disease and arthritis. SSIs are a broad platform technology being tested in multiple disease indications, including Health Canada approved clinical trials in lung cancer, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Backed by a prestigious group of scientific advisors and board members, Qu Biologics is led by a management team that includes co-founder and CEO Dr. Hal Gunn, a physician and expert on the body’s immune response to chronic disease; and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, former CEO of the BC Cancer Agency and a distinguished clinician, scientist and leader in cancer control in Canada and internationally.
For more information regarding this press release, contact:
Hal Gunn, MD
CEO
Qu Biologics Inc.
Phone: 604.734.1450
Email: media@qubiologics.com
Qu Biologics Inc. cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, Qu Biologics’ forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Qu Biologics’ business including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Qu Biologics does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.