DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mycovia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Mycovia”) today announced the appointment of Susan McGaurn, Pharm.D. as Senior Director of Medical Affairs. In her role, Dr. McGaurn will spearhead strategic medical affairs efforts that will support the launch of oteseconazole (VT-1161), an oral antifungal product candidate for the treatment of Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (RVVC) that is currently in Phase 3 clinical development. RVVC is a debilitating, chronic infectious condition that affects nearly 138 million women worldwide each year and for which there is currently no FDA-approved treatment in the U.S.
“We are committed to advancing our medical affairs strategy and engaging with key opinion leaders and working with the broader scientific community to exchange information about oteseconazole,” said Stephen Brand, PhD, Senior Vice President, Clinical Development at Mycovia. “I’m delighted that Susan has chosen to join Mycovia, bringing a proven track record of building and leading medical affairs teams.”
Dr. McGaurn has spent more than 20 years in medical science roles in the pharmaceutical industry. The breadth of her experience has contributed to the successful establishment and execution of multiple field-based Medical Science Liaison (MSL) launch teams in highly scientific therapeutic areas. She has led the operations of various Medical Information Call Centers and has headed the strategic advancement of policies and procedures in numerous biopharmaceutical organizations. Dr. McGaurn started her career as a clinical pharmacist in several Clinical Research Centers funded by the National Institutes of Health. Previously, Dr. McGaurn served as Director, Medical Information and Call Centers at Endo Pharmaceuticals.
“It’s my extreme honor to join Mycovia at this critical moment in the company’s development,” said Dr. McGaurn. “I look forward to working with the Mycovia team to develop relationships with key opinion leaders as we strive to evolve from a clinical-based company to a successful commercial launch company.”
Dr. McGaurn’s appointment is a key hiring milestone following Mycovia’s announcements in 2019 that it completed enrollment in its three Phase 3 clinical trials for oteseconazole – VIOLET and ultraVIOLET – and developed its commercial capabilities through two global exclusive licensing agreements to expand access to oteseconazole in other parts of the world.
About Mycovia Pharmaceuticals
Mycovia Pharmaceuticals has a passion for developing breakthrough therapies in areas of unmet medical need, with an initial focus in women’s health. Our lead product candidate, oteseconazole (VT-1161), is a novel, oral therapy for RVVC, that is designed with the goal of having greater selectivity, fewer side effects and improved efficacy. While not yet approved by the FDA, oteseconazole received FDA Qualified Infectious Disease Product and Fast-Track designations to support its potential to be the first FDA-approved treatment for RVVC. Oteseconazole is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials designed to establish its safety and efficacy in RVVC patients. In 2019, Mycovia licensed oteseconazole to Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., to develop and commercialize oteseconazole in China, including mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and Gedeon Richter Plc., a Hungary-based pharmaceutical company, to commercialize and manufacture oteseconazole in Europe, Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Latin America and Australia. Mycovia also recognizes a tremendous potential for its oral fungal inhibitors and a growing need to treat a range of multi-drug resistant fungal pathogens. For more information, please visit www.mycovia.com.
About Recurrent Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
RVVC is a debilitating, chronic infectious condition that affects millions of women. Primary symptoms include vaginal itching, burning, irritation and inflammation. Some women may experience abnormal vaginal discharge and painful sexual intercourse or urination, causing variable but often severe discomfort and pain. RVVC impacts quality of life, to a degree comparable to asthma and worse than diseases such as headache and migraine.
