SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing novel drugs that address treatment resistance, announced today the appointment of Annette C. North as executive vice president and general counsel, effective April 15. In this role, Ms. North will also serve as company secretary.
“Annette brings a wealth of experience and depth to our growing management team through 25 years serving biotechnology companies from inception through private and public fundraising, business development, and mergers and acquisitions,” said Athena Countouriotis, M.D., chief executive officer. “On a personal note, I have known Annette for many years and am happy to work with her again as we execute our plans for multiple potentially transformational cancer therapies.”
Ms. North has served as a senior executive and general counsel for a number of prior biotechnology companies, most recently Kura Oncology and Wellspring Biosciences. At Kura, she was responsible for all legal affairs, including corporate governance and compliance, intellectual property, the company’s financings and public listing on the NASDAQ stock market, and initiation of a pivotal global clinical trial. Prior to Kura, Ms. North served as senior vice president and general counsel at Ambit Biosciences from initial public offering and initiation of a pivotal global clinical trial through acquisition by Daiichi Sankyo. Prior to Ambit, she held legal roles at SGX Pharmaceuticals, Axys Pharmaceuticals, Sequana Therapeutics, and private law firms.
“Turning Point provides a unique opportunity for me to work again with Athena -– a talented and dynamic leader who I have known for many years -- on a pipeline of potentially transformational therapies,” said Ms. North. “From the scientific founders to the team Athena has attracted, this is an impressive group of professionals with a strong connection to cancer patients and prior track records of success in bringing new therapies to market. I am excited to become part of the team.”
Ms. North earned her Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce degrees from Melbourne University in Australia, and is a member of the State Bar of California.
About Turning Point Therapeutics Inc.
Turning Point Therapeutics is a clinical-stage precision oncology company with a pipeline of internally discovered investigational drugs designed to address key limitations of existing cancer therapies. The company’s lead program, repotrectinib, is a next-generation kinase inhibitor targeting genetic drivers of non-small cell lung cancer and advanced solid tumors. Repotrectinib has shown antitumor activity and durable responses among kinase inhibitor treatment-naïve and pre-treated patients, and is planned to enter a registrational Phase 2 study in the second half of 2019. Turning Point’s kinase inhibitors are designed to bind to their targets with greater precision and affinity than existing therapies, with a novel, compact structure that has demonstrated an ability to potentially overcome treatment resistance common with other kinase inhibitors. The company is driven to develop therapies that mark a turning point for patients in their cancer treatment. For more information, visit www.tptherapeutics.com.
