SAN DIEGO, Nov. 21, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lithera, Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on lifestyle and medical indications in aesthetic medicine and ophthalmology, today announced the appointment of Lincoln Krochmal, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer. This appointment reflects the continued growth of Lithera as it prepares to enter late-stage clinical trials and to commercialize its lead product candidate, LIPO-202 (Salmeterol Xinafoate for Injection).
Dr. Krochmal is a board-certified dermatologist and an authority on the development and commercialization of products for the dermatology and aesthetics markets. During his more than 30 year career, he played a pivotal role in the approval of 15 NDAs/ANDAs for new prescription topical dermatologicals including LacHydrin®, Ultravate®, Dovonex®, Evoclin®, Verdeso®, Olux-E®, Extina® and multiple consumer OTC products while with Unilever. Prior to Lithera, Dr. Krochmal was President and Chief Executive Officer of Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, an aesthetics company acquired by Pfizer, Inc., which developed novel treatments for the reduction of skin scarring.
"We are pleased that Dr. Krochmal has agreed to join Lithera at this exciting time in our history," says George Mahaffey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lithera. "His experience as a senior executive at emerging companies developing late-stage dermatology products into successful commercial products will be greatly valued by our business and an enhancement to our existing management team."
"If successfully developed, LIPO-202 would be the first and only injectable drug treatment for the targeted, non-ablative reduction of subcutaneous abdominal fat," said Dr. Krochmal. "These differentiating characteristics would translate into greater convenience, no recovery time, ease of administration and safety, all of which will have clear appeal to the physician and patient and offer a clinically meaningful alternative to liposuction. I look forward to building on the robust clinical profile that Lithera has established for LIPO-202."
Prior to Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Krochmal held various senior development and clinical research positions with Connetics Corporation, Westwood Pharmaceuticals, the dermatology subsidiary of Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Unilever PLC. Dr. Krochmal began his career in the pharmaceutical industry following eight years of private dermatology practice. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology. Additionally, Dr. Krochmal is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, a Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology and a member of the International Society of Dermatology and the Dermatology Foundation.
About Lithera:
Lithera is a clinical stage company developing pharmaceutical products addressing both lifestyle and medical indications in aesthetic medicine and ophthalmology. Using FDA-registered drugs approved for use in other indications, Lithera's products target and stimulate natural fat tissue metabolism to achieve non-ablative, non-surgical fat tissue reduction in specific locations. Our lead product candidate, LIPO-202 (Salmeterol Xinafoate for Injection), is a novel injectable pharmaceutical product designed to produce local, selective, non-ablative fat tissue reduction (pharmaceutical lipoplasty). LIPO-202 is currently under development for the reduction of central abdominal bulging in non-obese patients (BMI less than 30 kg/m 2 ). LIPO-102 (Salmeterol Xinafoate and Fluticasone Propionate for Injection) is currently under development for the treatment of symptomatic exophthalmos (protrusion of the eye from the orbit) associated with thyroid-related eye disease (also known as Graves' Orbitopathy). Founded in 2007, the Company has assembled an exceptional team of senior executives, employees and advisors and has been financed by top-tier venture capital firms. For more information on Lithera, Inc., please visit www.lithera.com .
Lithera, LIPO-102, LIPO-202 and the Lithera logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Lithera, Inc. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.
LacHydrin®, Ultravate®, Dovonex®, Evoclin®, Verdeso®, Olux-E® and Extina® are registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Lithera, Inc.: Susan Knudson Vice President, Finance & Administration 858-750-1008 Investor Relations: Fara Berkowitz Argot Partners 212-600-1902
