ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Feb. 9, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Respira Therapeutics, Inc. ( http://www.respiratherapeutics.com ) announced today that Andy Clark, Ph.D. has been appointed as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of the Company. Andy is a recognized expert in respiratory drug development, with 30+ years experience developing some of the pharmaceutical industries' most novel inhalation products; Pulmozyme®, the first inhaled protein, Exubera® the first inhaled insulin, and Tobi Podhaler®, the first inhaled dry powder antibiotic. He served as CTO of Inhale/Nektar Therapeutics, and most recently as CTO and site head at Novartis' pulmonary drug development site in San Carlos, CA. Andy has been awarded a number of the industry's top academic awards for his contributions to inhalation aerosol science and he holds multiple U.S. and foreign patents on successful inhaled pharmaceutical products.
"We are pleased that Andy has chosen to join Respira to lead our product development efforts. Andy has an exceptionally strong background in the inhaled pharmaceutical industry that combines very relevant experience with an extensive network, both of which will enhance Respira's future success. His critical insights into the inhaled drug development process, market, and industry will greatly benefit Respira," said Bob Curtis, CEO of Respira Therapeutics.
"We and Sun Mountain Capital are honored to have someone of Andy's experience and track record join Respira. It confirms our investment thesis and adds additional validation of the potential impact for our AOS-DPI technology and for our RT234 inhaled product pipeline for treating pulmonary hypertension," said David Blivin, Managing Director of Cottonwood Technology Fund, the Founding Investor of Respira.
"What drives my enthusiasm for Respira is not only the patent protected AOS-DPI technology, with its capability for highly efficient lung delivery using standard lactose blends, but also the product pipeline and the great team of people," said Andy. "Respira's inhaled product pipeline to treat pulmonary hypertension is already risk reduced, with multiple studies supporting its feasibility. We expect to obtain additional human proof of concept data in the very near future and I look forward to working with Respira's team and board to advance these products and Respira's technology to market."
About Respira Therapeutics, Inc.
Respira Therapeutics, Inc., founded in 2010 with offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a development stage inhaled pharmaceutical development company focused on commercializing its "best in class", high efficiency AOS-DPI, dry powder inhaler (DPI) drug delivery technology to deliver RT234, a proprietary inhaled formulation of an off patent oral drug via the lung to treatment of multiple orphan indications in the fields of pulmonary hypertension and other diseases. Investors in Respira include Cottonwood Technology Fund and Sun Mountain Capital and individual investors. To date Respira has performed extensive testing demonstrating its advanced AOS-DPI prototypes can deliver 2-3X more drug to the lung than commercially available DPI technologies. Respira is planning proof of concept clinical trials of an inhaled formulation of RT234 in pulmonary arterial hypertension patients in the near future.
Press Contacts: Bob Curtis, President and CEO Respira Therapeutics, Inc. m - (650) 388 8222
