PARIS and TOULOUSE, France, Jan. 05, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genticel (Euronext Paris & Brussels: FR00011790542 – GTCL), a clinical-stage biotechnology company and developer of innovative immunotherapies to prevent cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), today announces the appointment of a seasoned scientist with broad international experience, Rémi Palmantier, PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer.
With over 18 years of biotech and pharmaceutical industry experience, Dr. Palmantier brings to Genticel an in-depth expertise in therapeutic cancer vaccines as well as in other chronic diseases. He joins Genticel from GSK Vaccines, where he was most recently Senior Director, R&D, for the global portfolio of immunotherapies for chronic diseases. Formerly, Dr. Palmantier was Head of Cancer Preclinical Immunotherapies at GSK Biologicals (Canada), and was deeply involved in evaluating external opportunities for licensing to build a portfolio of immunotherapeutic candidates. He started his career with GSK Biologicals in 1997 and held various scientific positions in the Therapeutic Cancer Vaccine Program. Dr. Palmantier has authored multiple scientific publications and is the inventor of over 10 patents with worldwide coverage. He holds a PhD in Immunology from the University of Laval (Canada), and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Laboratory of Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
Marie-Christine Bissery, PhD, Pharm.D, member of Genticel’s Management Board and previous Chief Scientific Officer, is appointed Chief Development Officer and is responsible for overseeing all project management activities in the Company.
With the addition of Rémi Palmantier, an experienced researcher in the field of immunology, in particular in cancer immunotherapy, Genticel expects to accelerate its research and development programs. Dr. Palmantier’s expertise will facilitate the discovery, development and integration of specific immunotherapies at Genticel. His track record of successfully developing drug candidates will support the Company’s strategy to expand its pipeline of innovative immunotherapies and to target various types of infectious diseases and cancers, beyond its advanced program of HPV therapeutic vaccines.
Dr. Palmantier said, “I am delighted to join Genticel as the head of research and technology at an exciting stage in the company’s development. I believe Genticel is on the right track and possesses the capability to leverage its many assets, enabling us to swiftly and successfully move from compounds with preclinical potential to therapies with the ability to change the lives of patients."
“We are very pleased to welcome Rémi to our team,” concluded Benedikt Timmerman, PhD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of Genticel. “ His significant experience and expertise in T Cell and antibody immunology will further strengthen our management team and support Genticel’s strategy to expand our pipeline and technology and establish fruitful partnerships.”
About Genticel
Aiming to solve a public health issue.
Among the 300 million women around the world currently infected with HPV, 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer are identified each year and 275,000 women succumb to the disease. 70% of cervical cancer cases are caused by 2 HPV types and Genticel aims to eliminate them at an early stage with GTL001 (known in Europe as ProCervix), its first-in-class immunotherapeutic vaccine candidate. The company has already completed patient recruitment for the phase 2 clinical trial of GTL001 in Europe.
Offering a promising technological platform.
Genticel’s versatile platform, Vaxiclase, is ideally suited for the development of immunotherapies against multiple infectious or cancerous diseases. Genticel’s second candidate, GTL002, is a multivalent HPV therapeutic vaccine designed with Vaxiclase. It targets the six most relevant HPV types in terms of global epidemiology and is currently in preclinical development.
Focusing on value creation.
Respectively, the peak sales potentials of GTL001 and GTL002 are estimated at over €1 billion and €2 billion per year. In addtion to this attractive HPV product pipeline, Genticel’s versatile technological platform, Vaxiclase, has already generated significant interest in the pharmaceutical industry, as illustrated by the partnership agreement signed in 2015 with the Serum Institute of India Ltd. (SIIL), the world’s largest producer of vaccine doses. This partnership could generate up to $57 million in revenues for Genticel, before royalties on sales. It will enable SIIL to develop acellular multivalent combination vaccines against a variety of infectious diseases, including whooping cough.
For more information, visit us at www.genticel.com
Disclaimer
This press release and the information it contains does not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy, sell or hold Genticel shares in any country. This press release may contain forward-looking statements by the company with respect to its objectives. These statements are based on the current estimates and forecasts of the company’s management and are subject to risks and uncertainties such as the company’s ability to implement its chosen strategy, customer market trends, changes in technologies and in the company’s competitive environment, changes in regulations, clinical or industrial risks and all risks linked to the company’s growth. These factors as well as other risks and uncertainties may prevent the company from achieving the objectives outlined in the press release. No guarantee is given on forward-looking statements which are subject to a number of risks, notably those described in the registration document filed with the French Markets Authority (the AMF) on 1 April 2015 under number R.15-015 and those linked to changes in economic conditions, the financial markets, or the markets on which Genticel is present. Genticel products are currently used for clinical trials only and are not otherwise available for distribution or sale.
CONTACT: GENTICEL Valerie Leroy Investor Relations & Corporate Communications +33 6 33 34 37 30 investors@genticel.com INVESTORS US - LifeSci Advisors Brian Ritchie +1 212 915 2578 britchie@lifesciadvisors.com Europe - ACTUS Corinne Puissant +33 1 53 67 36 77 cpuissant@actus.fr MEDIA ALIZE RP Caroline Carmagnol & Florence Portejoie +33 6 64 18 99 59 / +33 6 47 38 90 04 genticel@alizerp.fr
