OLDWICK, N.J., July 31, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Provention
Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq:PRVB), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company
dedicated to intercepting and preventing immune-mediated diseases,
announced today the appointment of Mark
Rigby, MD, PhD, FAAP, FCCM to the role of Vice President,
Clinical Development. A key opinion leader in T1D research and
development, Dr. Rigby joins Provention's clinical and scientific
team to advance the company's programs targeting T1D interception
and prevention.
Provention's development pipeline includes two products
addressing T1D – PRV-031, a Phase 3 stage asset for the
interception of early-onset T1D, and PRV-101, a polyvalent
coxsackievirus B vaccine, which Provention is developing to
potentially prevent up to 50% of worldwide T1D cases.
Reporting to Dr. Eleanor Ramos,
Provention's Chief Medical Officer and Chief Operating Officer, Dr.
Rigby will initially lead the planning and initiation of a PRV-031
pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in early-onset T1D.
"Having successfully completed our initial public offering,
Provention is now keenly focused on advancing our clinical
development pipeline targeting disease interception and prevention
in T1D and other immune-mediated diseases," stated Ashleigh Palmer, CEO of Provention Bio. "As a
recognized key opinion leader in T1D, Mark is an important addition
to our clinical team. We look forward to benefitting from his
more than two decades of clinical, academic, and pharma industry
experience advancing immune therapeutics for T1D and other
autoimmune disorders."
Dr. Rigby joins Provention after more than 25 years of clinical
and research experience in academics and industry. Most recently he
served as Director, Immunology Early Development and Translational
Medicine for Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson and Johnson
Company, where he led multiple clinical and research programs
including clinical trials focused on T1D interception in new onset
and pre-symptomatic disease. He also participated in
advancing several early-stage assets through first in human
studies, developing progressive immune monitoring assessments, and
leading general strategy in the immunology therapeutic area.
"Mark's recent work with Janssen in the field of T1D
interception and his past research in the area of pediatric
diabetes will play an important role as we progress towards
initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for PRV-031 to
intercept early-onset T1D," said Dr. Ramos. "Provention is excited
to be working with Mark and benefitting from his years of T1D
experience, drug development and caring for patients with this and
other life-altering diseases."
"As a practicing physician, my primary goal was to treat my
patients in real time, addressing symptoms of a condition that
placed them at significant risk in the present. While this is the
current convention in medicine, it can no longer be our goal,"
stated Dr. Rigby. "While important advances have been made over the
past several decades in understanding the root causes of this
disease, it's now time to bring these advances to patients.
Treatments should be administered upstream in the course of T1D,
before the inevitable life-impacting side effects of the disease
manifest themselves. In particular, we want to develop therapies to
stop the destruction of insulin producing cells and revive them so
individuals with T1D do not need to give themselves multiple
injections every day for the rest of their lives, sparing them from
the acute and long term complications and misery of this disease.
Our vision is intercepting autoimmune disease before it becomes a
chronic condition and, ultimately, looking to prevent these
diseases entirely. Provention is at the forefront of this new
approach, and I look forward to bringing my experience,
understanding and know-how to make immediate and long-lasting
contributions to this ground-breaking company."
Prior to his role at Janssen, Dr. Rigby had an accomplished
academic career. Dr. Rigby obtained his undergraduate degree from
Duke University, MD and Ph.D. in
Biological Sciences/Immunology from the University of Massachusetts, and completed clinical
residency and fellowship training at The John Hopkins Hospital.
Dr. Rigby was Associate Professor in Pediatrics and Surgery at
Emory University School of Medicine,
Director of Research in the Division of Pediatric Critical Care
Medicine and conducted basic and clinical research in T1D and
immune regulation in the Emory Transplant Center. He was then
Academic Section Chief in Pediatric Critical Care, Associate
Professor in Pediatrics, Scientist in the Wells Center Program in
Diabetes Research and Co-Director Pediatric Translational Research
and Integrative Biology Center at Indiana
University.
An author of numerous seminal publications and presentations on
basic and clinical studies in T1D, transplantation and pediatric
critical care, Dr. Rigby has also served as Protocol Chair and on
the Steering Committee for the Immune Tolerance Network (ITN) and
active in a variety of science and medical societies.
About Provention Bio, Inc.
Provention Bio, Inc. is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company leveraging a
transformational drug development strategy that is focused on the
prevention or interception of immune-mediated disease. Our
diverse portfolio was assembled with product candidates that have
undergone clinical testing but may have been underdeveloped or
deprioritized assets at other companies. Provention's mission is to
in-license, transform and develop clinical-stage, or nearly
clinical-stage, therapeutic candidates targeting the high
morbidity, mortality and escalating costs of autoimmune and
inflammatory diseases including: type 1 diabetes (T1D), Crohn's
disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus, and certain life-threating
viral diseases. For more information on Provention Bio, please
visit www.proventionbio.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in
this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements
may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as
"anticipate," "believe," "forecast," "estimate," "expect," and
"intend," among others. These forward-looking statements are based
on Provention's current expectations and actual results could
differ materially. There are a number of factors that could cause
actual events to differ materially from those indicated by such
forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not
limited to, risks related to failure to obtain FDA approvals or
clearances and noncompliance with FDA regulations; uncertainties of
patent protection and litigation; limited research and development
efforts and dependence upon third parties; substantial competition;
and our need for additional financing. As with any pharmaceutical
under development, there are significant risks in the development,
regulatory approval and commercialization of new products.
Provention does not undertake an obligation to update or revise any
forward-looking statement. The information set forth herein speaks
only as of the date hereof.
Media & Investor Contacts
Jason Rando / Joshua
Drumm, Ph.D.
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
T: 212 375 2665 / 212 375 2664|
jrando@tiberend.com
jdrumm@tiberend.com
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SOURCE Provention Bio, Inc.