SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Dec. 3, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: FPRX ), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing novel protein therapeutics for cancer and inflammatory diseases, announced the appointments of Dr. Kapil Dhingra and Dr. Sheila Gujrathi to the company's Board of Directors.
Dr. Dhingra has more than 25 years of experience in oncology translational research, clinical research, and drug development in industry and academia. Presently, Dr. Dhingra heads KAPital Consulting LLC, a healthcare consulting firm dedicated to assisting biotechnology, pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies realize the full promise of scientific, clinical and commercial advances in oncology. Prior to this, he spent nine years at Hoffmann-La Roche, in roles of increasing responsibility, including Vice President, Head, Oncology Disease Biology Leadership Team, and Head, Oncology Clinical Development. He played a key role in the development of numerous important drugs, including Herceptin, MabThera, Avastin, Xeloda, Zelboraf, Gazyva, and Perjeta, among others. Prior to Roche, Dr. Dhingra worked in the oncology clinical development group at Eli Lilly and Company. His academic career included faculty appointments at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Dr. Dhingra holds an M.B.,B.S. degree from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and is Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Exosome Diagnostics (non-Executive Chairman), Advanced Accelerator Applications, and Autolus, and previously served on the Boards of Algeta, Biovex, Micromet, Epitherapeutics, and YM Biosciences, which were acquired by major pharmaceutical companies.
Dr. Gujrathi most recently served as Chief Medical Officer of Receptos, an immunology-focused biotechnology company that was acquired by Celgene in August 2015 for $7.2 billion. At Receptos, she built the clinical development organization and advanced the pipeline of drug candidates, including Phase 3 programs in multiple sclerosis and ulcerative colitis. Previously, Dr. Gujrathi was Vice President of the Global Clinical Development Group in Immunology at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). There she led late-stage clinical development and supported regulatory filings for Orencia® and Nulojix®. She was also responsible for development of other assets in the BMS immunology clinical pipeline, and advised the strategies for discovery, early development and external business development within the immunoscience franchise. Prior to BMS, Dr. Gujrathi held roles in the immunology, tissue growth and repair clinical development groups at Genentech and served as the Avastin franchise team leader. Earlier in her career, she was also a management consultant in McKinsey & Company's healthcare practice.
Dr. Gujrathi received her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and M.D. from Northwestern University in the Honors Program in Medical Education. She completed her internal medicine internship and residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and additional fellowship training in Allergy/Immunology at UCSF and Stanford. She previously served on the Board of Directors of Ambrx, which was acquired in June 2015.
"The Board and I are extremely pleased to have Dr. Dhingra and Dr. Gujrathi joining us as Directors," said Brian Atwood, Chairman of the Board of Five Prime. "Each has played a critical role in the successful expansion and advancement of the clinical pipelines within leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. They also bring a deep understanding of oncology and immunology, which is an ideal fit to maximize the potential of Five Prime's comprehensive platform for protein therapeutics and accelerate the company's strategy in immuno-oncology."
About Five Prime
Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. discovers and develops innovative therapeutics to improve the lives of patients with serious diseases. Five Prime's comprehensive discovery platform, which encompasses virtually every medically relevant extracellular protein, positions it to explore pathways in cancer, inflammation and their intersection in immuno-oncology, an area with significant therapeutic potential and a growing focus of the company's R&D activities. Five Prime has entered into strategic collaborations with leading global pharmaceutical companies and has promising product candidates in clinical and preclinical development. For more information, please visit www.fiveprime.com .
Cautionary Note on Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend" and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Five Prime's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in Five Prime's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the "Risk Factors" contained therein. Except as required by law, Five Prime assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.
Amy Kendall, Corporate Communications 415-365-5776
