Singapore, Jan. 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cerecin appoints Dr. Xiaoping Cao as Head of CMC
Dr. Cao will lead the Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) of Cerecin’s pipeline of highly innovative neurotherapeutics
SINGAPORE, 7 January 2019 – Brain health-focused pharmaceutical company Cerecin, today announces the appointment of Dr. Xiaoping Cao as Head of Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) with immediate effect.
Based in Singapore, Dr. Cao will lead the CMC team focusing on bringing tricaprilin, Cerecin’s lead drug compound, to Phase III trial, as well as supporting the development of other unique therapeutics for the treatment of dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. He will also lead development of Cerecin’s other products, including new product lines for its medical food, Axona®, in preparation for launches in Asia-Pacific.
Dr. Cao has over 16 years of pharmaceutical research and development experience and a proven track record in leading CMC functions with multiple product approvals. He joins Cerecin from Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) China R&D, where he was the Head and Director of CMC since 2014. Prior to MSD, Dr. Cao spent 12 years in various roles with Pfizer Inc, including Technology & Sourcing Lead in China, Senior Principal Scientist in Drug Product Design in the US, and Principal Scientist in Analytical R&D in the US. He brings expertise and experience in a wide range of CMC functions including formulation, regulatory, pharmaceutical material sciences, analytical, external sourcing and collaboration.
Commenting on the appointment, Charles Stacey, President and CEO of Cerecin, said, “We are very pleased to have Dr. Cao onboard to head Cerecin’s CMC team, as we build our manufacturing capabilities to produce high-quality compounds for clinical development and for the market. His expertise and proven record in formulation and material sciences, from research to commercialization, will be invaluable to the development of compounds in our pipeline and commercialization of assets.”
Dr. Cao said, “50 million people worldwide are living with dementia right now and a new case develops every 3 seconds 1 . With no cure and the lowest approval rate for new compounds, the scale of the challenge is huge and the need for innovative treatments is urgent. Cerecin’s work is important and I am very excited to join a team with deep scientific strength, a clear commercialization strategy, and ambitious plans. I look forward to leveraging my experience in CMC development and portfolio management to support Cerecin’s growth strategy worldwide.”
Dr. Cao graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US with a PhD in Analytical Chemistry. He obtained a MBA from University of Connecticut, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
ENDS
About Cerecin
Cerecin, previously Accera, is a global healthcare company focused on developing brain health solutions and therapeutics for patients around the world. Cerecin is led by an expert executive management team with globally recognized specialists in central nervous system diseases and supported by two partners, Nestlé and Wilmar International. Cerecin’s lead compound, tricaprilin , is intended to address the metabolic deficit that is known to be characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease by providing the brain with an alternative energy substrate. Cerecin is currently preparing this newly reformulated compound for global pivotal studies. Bringing together the deep industry expertise of its leadership team and the extensive market access capabilities of its strategic investors, Cerecin is growing its global presence to build a brighter future for Alzheimer’s patients.
For more information visit www.cerecin.com .
For further information, please contact:
Emma Thompson/ Jonathan Parry
+65 6340 7287
© 2019 Cerecin AC-19-843 01/19
1 World Alzheimer Report 2018 by Alzheimer’s Disease International
Attachment
