BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Light Sciences Oncology, Inc. (LSO) today announced the election of Dennis Langer, M.D., J.D. to the Company’s Board of Directors and his appointment as the Chairman of the Executive Committee. LSO expects data to be available during the second half of this year from two phase 3 trials of light-activated talaporfin sodium in patients with primary and secondary liver tumors.
“On behalf of the Board, we welcome Dr. Langer’s appointment,” said Martin Olin, LSO’s Chairman. “We are pleased to have such an exceptional and seasoned pharmaceutical executive to provide advice and leadership at this critical phase for the Company.”
Dr. Langer is a Director of Myriad Genetics, Inc., Myrexis, Inc., and Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He has been a Director of several public and private biotechnology companies, including Sirna Therapeutics, Inc. (acquired by Merck and Co., Inc.), Ception Therapeutics, Inc. (acquired by Cephalon, Inc.), Transkaryotic Therapies, Inc. (acquired by Shire plc), Pharmacopeia, Inc. (acquired by Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), and Cytogen Corporation (acquired by EUSA Pharma, Inc.). He was a Managing Partner at Phoenix IP Ventures from 2005-2010. From 2004-2005, he was President, North America at Dr. Reddy's Laboratories. Dr. Langer was with GlaxoSmithKline from 1994-2004, where he served as Senior Vice President, Project, Portfolio, and Alliance Management, Senior Vice President, Product Development Strategy, and Senior Vice President, Healthcare Services R&D. He also served as President and CEO at Neose Technologies, Inc. from 1991-1994. Previously, Dr. Langer held R&D and marketing positions at Eli Lilly, Abbott, and Searle. Under Dr. Langer’s leadership, more than 60 compounds were developed and/or commercialized, including Ambien®, Avodart®, Bexxar®, Boniva®, Calan SR®, Daypro®, Depakote®, Levitra®, Paxil CR®, and Wellbutrin XL®.
Dr. Langer is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. He was Chief Resident in Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine and held clinical fellowships in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Langer serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board of Harvard Law School and the Committee on Medical Center Affairs of the Board of Directors of Georgetown University. He received an M.D. from Georgetown University School of Medicine; a J.D. (cum laude) from Harvard Law School; and a B.A. in Biology from Columbia University.
“I look forward to working with the LSO Board of Directors and Executive Team at this stage of development,” Dr. Langer said. “I am impressed by the ongoing efforts of the executives and employees to bring this innovative therapy to patients. If successful in these pivotal trials, light-activated talaporfin sodium could provide patients and their physicians with a powerful therapy for cancer without adding to the side effects of the current standards of care.”
About Light Sciences Oncology
Light Sciences Oncology (LSO) is developing light-activated talaporfin sodium for the treatment of solid tumors as well as other indications such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Talaporfin sodium is activated by a proprietary, single-use, light-emitting diode (LED) array included with the drug. Activated talaporfin is designed to provide tolerable, effective, and repeatable treatments for patients. LSO has completed treatment in Phase 3 trials of light-activated talaporfin in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC). LSO is also conducting clinical trials of talaporfin sodium in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlargement of the prostate, is supporting a trial of talaporfin in neurofibromatosis, and has clinical or preclinical programs in cardiovascular disease and dermatology. The Company has positioned light-activated talaporfin to benefit an increasing number of patients with a strong portfolio of intellectual property and innovative applications in development.