CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Goldfinch Bio, a biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing precision medicines for the treatment of genetically-driven kidney diseases, today announced the appointment of Frank S. Czerwiec, M.D., Ph.D. as Chief Medical Officer to build and lead its clinical strategy and organization.
"We are excited to welcome Dr. Czerwiec to the Goldfinch Bio team. His extensive global drug development experience within kidney diseases will be invaluable as we efficiently advance our first drug candidate, GFB-887, towards the clinic,” said Anthony Johnson, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Goldfinch Bio. "In this newly created role, Frank will be responsible for establishing the clinical strategy and development plans necessary to progress clinical candidates identified by the Goldfinch Bio product engine. The latter integrates breakthroughs in kidney genetics and biology to identify new therapeutic targets and advance first-in-class drug candidates in the right kidney disease patient subsets.”
“The approach Goldfinch Bio has taken, beginning with the elucidation of the genetic root causes of kidney disease, is particularly attractive and timely, said Dr. Czerwiec. “The Kidney Genome Atlas will provide a roadmap for nephrologists to follow in selecting the correct treatments for patients at risk of progressive kidney disease and promises to optimize their care.”
Dr. Czerwiec joins Goldfinch Bio from Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. where he was most recently Vice President, Global Clinical Development leading their Cardio-Renal and Metabolic/Medicine group. During his 20-year tenure at Otsuka he was a key contributor to multiple drug approvals and led the global tolvaptan program in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). During his career Dr. Czerwiec has been an active supporter of kidney disease-related research including the Critical-Path’s PKD Outcomes Consortium, Kidney Drug Development Tools Summit and ADPKD Summit. He has contributed to the National Kidney Foundation's Patient Reported Outcome Initiative and ASN’s Kidney Health Initiative. Dr. Czerwiec earned his M.D. and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and conducted his internal medicine residency at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine before completing his post-doctoral training in translational research through a fellowship in Adult Endocrinology and Metabolism at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (NICHD & NIDDK).
About Goldfinch Bio
Goldfinch Bio is a biotechnology company
that is singularly focused on discovering and developing precision
therapies for patients with kidney diseases. Just as the goldfinch has
long been a symbol of healing and renewal and was a prominent figure of
the Renaissance, Goldfinch Bio is leading a new age of therapeutic
discovery to transform the treatment paradigm for patients with kidney
diseases. Goldfinch was launched in 2016 by Third Rock Ventures, and is
headquartered in Cambridge, Mass. For more information, please visit www.goldfinchbio.com.
