CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MPM Capital (MPM), a leading biotechnology investment firm investing in early-stage therapeutics companies, today announced that David S. Bredt, MD, PhD, has joined its team of Executive Partners.
“We’re delighted to have David join MPM. His drug discovery expertise will be broadly applied to the MPM portfolio with a particular emphasis on building new companies addressing disorders of the central nervous system,” said Ed Hurwitz, managing director at MPM Capital. “We see tremendous advances in the understanding of neurological dysfunction particularly in the areas of protein trafficking, neuroinflammation, neuroregeneration and ion-channel modulation. We fully expect David’s technical and managerial expertise will be of tremendous value as we delve into these exciting new opportunities.”
David will take a leading role in helping MPM explore a range of opportunities, including those presented by new developments in the understanding of neurological dysfunction. This will include identifying and assessing new technologies and helping advance MPM’s company formation efforts in the field of neurology.
“I am thrilled to join MPM Capital and to bring leadership in both drug discovery and the field of neurology to this accomplished team,” said Dr. Bredt. “These are unprecedented times both of therapeutic need and of scientific progress. MPM has an impressive record of creating transformational biotechnology companies; I look forward to innovating with the team to deliver breakthrough new health care solutions to patients.”
David S. Bredt, M.D., Ph.D.
Before joining MPM, David was Site Head for Johnson & Johnson’s R&D Campus in La Jolla, which focuses on Neuroscience, Immunology and Biotechnology and is the original JLABS incubator for emerging healthcare companies. He was Global Head of Neuroscience Discovery at Johnson & Johnson where he had line management responsibility for neuroscience biology, biomarkers, and external innovation activities. His discovery group delivered numerous small and large molecule clinical candidates for Alzheimer’s disease, major depression, schizophrenia and epilepsy.
David joined Eli Lilly and Company as Vice President of Integrative Biology in August 2004 and became Vice President of Neuroscience Discovery and Early Development a few years later. As head of neuroscience research at Eli Lilly, David’s group was responsible for Discovery through Phase 2 programs in Neurology, Psychiatry, Migraine, and Pain indications. His group prosecuted numerous small and large molecules that entered preclinical and clinical development including galcanezumab / Emgality, which is now approved for preventative treatment of migraine.
David graduated summa cum laude in Chemistry at Princeton University. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he trained with Dr. Solomon H. Snyder. After graduation, David was Professor of Physiology at the University of California, San Francisco for ten years. His research on nitric oxide, glutamate receptor signaling, and synaptic plasticity has yielded ~225 papers, which have been cited ~75,000 times in the scientific literature. He served on the Medical Advisory Committee for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, he was an Established Investigator for the American Heart Association, and he was a National Young Investigator for the National Science Foundation.
About MPM Capital
MPM Capital is a biotechnology investment firm with over two decades of experience founding and investing in companies that seek to translate scientific innovations into cures for major diseases. With its experienced and dedicated team of investment professionals, entrepreneurs, and advisors, MPM strives to power novel medical breakthroughs that transform patients' lives. For more information visit www.mpmcapital.com
