RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a world leader in the development of “best-in-class” therapies targeting key metalloenzymes, announced today the appointment of Richard D. Katz, M.D. to the newly-created position of Chief Business and Financial Officer. Dr. Katz will be responsible for strategic planning and direction, overseeing commercial and financial operations and execution of the Company’s corporate and business development activities.
“We are pleased to have Rich join our management team,” said Robert Schotzinger, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Viamet. “Rich is a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with a wealth of business, finance and transactional experience. He joins Viamet at a pivotal point in our development as we move our lead therapeutic programs toward human proof-of-concept. VT-464, a small molecule inhibitor of CYP17 lyase, is in Phase 1/2 clinical testing for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer and VT-1161, a small molecule inhibitor of CYP51, is in Phase 1 clinical testing for the treatment of a diverse range of fungal infections”, he noted. Both molecules were discovered by Viamet Pharmaceuticals using its proprietary Metallophile® Technology.
“I am excited to join Viamet at this critical time in the Company’s development”, noted Dr. Katz. “VT-464 and VT-1161 have the potential to become best-in-class therapies and are rapidly progressing to a partner-ready stage. In addition, the Company has a deep development pipeline of novel, small molecule agents allowing for a franchise approach to the current areas of therapeutic focus, as well as a robust technology platform which offers the opportunity to discover and develop novel therapeutics across a broad range of therapeutic areas.”
Dr. Katz has more than 15 years of pharmaceutical and life science investment banking experience, most recently as Executive Vice President, Finance and Corporate Development and Chief Financial Officer of Icagen, Inc. While at Icagen, Dr. Katz was instrumental in the successful completion of the company’s initial public offering, the execution of strategic collaborations with Abbott Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, and the sale of the company to Pfizer in 2011. Previously, Dr. Katz was Vice President, Healthcare Group of the Investment Banking Division of Goldman, Sachs & Company. He earned a B.A. from Harvard University, an M.D. from Stanford University, and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.
About Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (www.viamet.com)
Viamet discovers and develops "best-in-class" inhibitors of key metalloenzymes via an innovative and proprietary platform, called the Metallophile® Technology. The Metallophile Technology is based on our world-class expertise in bioinorganic chemistry and an extensive understanding of metalloenzyme structure and function. Using the Metallophile Technology, we can rapidly and cost-effectively generate best-in-class, patentable, small molecule inhibitors of metalloenzymes by optimizing the metal-binding component of existing compounds. The Metallophile Technology has enabled Viamet to rapidly build a portfolio of proprietary clinical compounds and drug candidates which address significant unmet medical needs and represent blockbuster commercial potential.