The company developing what could be the first oral treatment to tackle the tau protein pathology of Alzheimer's disease has announced the appointment of a leading industry figure to its board.
Dr Michael Cooper has joined TauRx Pharmaceuticals Ltd as an independent non-executive director as the company awaits the outcome of its Marketing Authorisation Application for its drug, hydromethylthionine mesylate (HMTM).
And as part of its plans for further growth, TauRx has also appointed Aine Mishra as its new Head of Strategic Development to oversee the development of business cases for next generation molecules and indications beyond Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Dr Cooper is currently an internal consultant in the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) for the UK Government and has previously held positions in Trinity Delta – the specialist healthcare and life sciences research house he founded – and Edison Investment Research, where he held the position of Head of Research, Healthcare.
He will contribute to the strategic direction and governance of TauRx Pharmaceuticals, as well as provide valuable advice to the organisation on matters related to financing and operations.
Dr Cooper said: “TauRx is a hugely exciting and innovative organisation working to develop a treatment for one of the world’s greatest unmet medical needs.
“I am proud to join the company and look forward to working with the talented teams to deliver a successful drug that – subject to regulatory approval – could improve the health of millions of people and ease the burden on already stretched healthcare systems.”
While he will continue to work with the OLS, Dr Cooper will not be involved in any discussions involving dementia within the government body.
Meanwhile, Aine has joined TauRx from EY (Ernst & Young), where she was a change management consultant and supported clients in developing and implementing corporate transformation strategies. The qualified engineer has also served as a non-executive director on the Board of Trustees at Mental Health Aberdeen since February last year.
TauRx Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Business Officer Dr Glenn Corr said: “Mick is a highly respected figure in the life sciences industry and brings a plethora of experience to the company.
“His deep knowledge of the healthcare sector will be invaluable as we navigate the next stages of our development. We look forward to working with Mick during what is an exciting time for TauRx and are delighted to have him on board.
“Meanwhile, Aine’s experience in the energy sector, where she has had to contend with stringent regulations and shifting strategies leaves her well-placed to be a key part of the TauRx journey.
“I am pleased to welcome both Mick and Aine to the team, and look forward to working with them.”
The announcements come after the Aberdeen-based company reported the encouraging results of research which showed HMTM slowed the progression of Alzheimer’s disease over a period of at least 18 months.
The study compared results from HMTM’s recent Phase 3 trial with placebo data from closely matched subjects available from the Critical Path in AD (CPAD) Institute database, which contains information from nearly 10,000 patients that have taken part in 36 global trials.
TauRx has submitted a Marketing Authorisation Application for HMTM to the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), while the company is also engaged with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to assess the suitability of the medicine for use on the NHS.
If granted approval, HMTM could be the first oral treatment for AD that targets the tau protein pathology.
