CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Syros Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:SYRS), a leader in the development of medicines that control the expression of genes, today announced the appointment of Conley Chee as the company’s first Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Chee brings 20 years of pharmaceutical sales leadership, marketing and strategy experience in the U.S. and globally, with particular expertise in driving commercial strategy for novel medicines for the treatment of cancer.
“We are pleased to welcome Conley to Syros. With multiple programs progressing through late-stage development and towards potential new drug applications in 2024, now is the right time to begin building our commercial organization,” said Nancy Simonian, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Syros. “Conley brings a wealth of relevant experience in oncology commercial leadership, including a track record of building effective commercial organizations and successfully launching new targeted therapies. We look forward to his many contributions as we mature Syros into a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company and work to deliver our medicines to patients in need.”
Mr. Chee joins Syros from Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where he most recently served as Global Head of Portfolio Management, Global Pipeline Strategy and Precision Medicine. In this role, Mr. Chee had strategic responsibility for shaping Novartis’ overall pipeline, including driving commercial planning for the company’s early-stage portfolio and diagnostics strategy for oncology. Earlier in his career at Novartis, Mr. Chee served as Vice President – Global Head Oncology Lung Franchise, as well as multiple US sales and marketing leadership roles. Prior to joining Novartis, Mr. Chee spent five years in roles of increasing responsibility at Pfizer, ultimately serving as Team Leader of International Business Development. He holds an M.B.A from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and B.Sc. Pharm from the University of Alberta, and completed his residency in Clinical Pharmacy at the University of British Columbia.
“Syros’ growing portfolio of later-stage targeted investigational medicines has the potential to offer new standards of care to people with hematologic malignancies who need and deserve better treatment options,” said Mr. Chee. “I look forward to working with the leadership team to develop a commercial strategy that maximizes synergies across Syros’ portfolio to bring products to market and profoundly impact the lives of patients.”
About Syros Pharmaceuticals
Syros is redefining the power of small molecules to control the expression of genes. Based on its unique ability to elucidate regulatory regions of the genome, Syros aims to develop medicines that provide a profound benefit for patients with diseases that have eluded other genomics-based approaches. Syros is advancing a robust clinical-stage pipeline, including: tamibarotene, a first-in-class oral selective RARα agonist in RARA-positive patients with higher-risk myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia; SY-2101, a novel oral form of arsenic trioxide in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia; and SY-5609, a highly selective and potent oral CDK7 inhibitor in patients with select solid tumors and blood cancers. Syros also has multiple preclinical and discovery programs in oncology and monogenic diseases.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation statements regarding the expected timing of filing of new drug applications, the ability to commercialize products, and the therapeutic application and potential of Syros’s programs, including the ability to offer new standards of care to people with hematologic malignancies. The words ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘believe,’’ ‘‘continue,’’ ‘‘could,’’ ‘‘estimate,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ “hope,” ‘‘intend,’’ ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘plan,’’ ‘‘potential,’’ ‘‘predict,’’ ‘‘project,’’ ‘‘target,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘would,’’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including Syros’ ability to: advance the development of its programs, including its targeted hematology and CDK7 programs, under the timelines it projects in current and future clinical trials; demonstrate in any current and future clinical trials the requisite safety, efficacy and combinability of its drug candidates; replicate scientific and non-clinical data in clinical trials; successfully develop a companion diagnostic test to identify patients with the RARA biomarker; obtain and maintain patent protection for its drug candidates and the freedom to operate under third party intellectual property; obtain and maintain necessary regulatory approvals; identify, enter into and maintain collaboration agreements with third parties, including its ability to perform under its collaboration agreements with Incyte Corporation and Global Blood Therapeutics; manage competition; manage expenses; raise the substantial additional capital needed to achieve its business objectives; attract and retain qualified personnel; and successfully execute on its business strategies; risks described under the caption “Risk Factors” in Syros’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, each of which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and risks described in other filings that Syros makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the future. In addition, the extent to which the COVID-19 outbreak continues to impact our workforce and our discovery research, supply chain and clinical trial operations activities, and the operations of the third parties on which we rely, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence, including the duration and severity of the outbreak, additional or modified government actions, and the actions that may be required to contain the virus or treat its impact. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Syros expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise.
