Advanced Cancer Therapeutics Appoints Gilles Tapolsky, Ph.D. to Chief Scientific Officer
Louisville, KY - August 19, 2008 - Advanced Cancer Therapeutics LLC (ACT), announced today that industry veteran Gilles H. Tapolsky, Ph.D. has joined ACT as Chief Scientific officer.
Dr. Tapolsky brings over 20 years of experience in corporate management, research and pharmaceutical development to ACT. In this newly created position, he will be responsible for the leadership of all-preclinical and clinical development activities.
“We are thrilled to have Gilles join our team. He has led a distinguished career in pharmaceutical development and is recognized as a leader in the biotechnology field,” said Randall B. Riggs, President & CEO at ACT. “With his track record of success in developing multiple drug modalities and firsthand knowledge of the process required to take a product from initial target discovery to successful regulatory submission, Gilles is uniquely qualified to help translate our discoveries of novel anti-cancer products into important therapies for cancer patients.”
Prior to joining ACT, Dr. Tapolsky severed as Vice President, Product Development at Tapestry Pharmaceuticals of Boulder, Colorado. In this position, he led the development of new anti-cancer agents, Designing and implementing pre-clinical studies of multiple compounds. He was also a member of the clinical development group and supported all clinical studies. Previously, Dr. Tapolsky was Vice President, Research & Development at FeRx Incorporated where he was responsible for building that company’s drug discovery efforts and evaluating business development opportunities. Earlier in his career, Dr. Tapolsky was Director, Product Development at ViroTex where his leadership resulted in the successful development of several products, as well as the implementation of a number of corporate collaborations. Before joining ViroTex, Dr. Tapolsky served as Senior Scientist, Drug Formation & Polymer Development at Flamel Technologies of Lyon, France, where he was instrumental in the scale-up of processes and the conception of GMP facilities. He started his career as a Research Scientist in the Materials Science Department of Phone-Poulen Rhorer where he contributed to the design, synthesis and characterization of novel products.
“I’m very excited to join ACT as we build an innovative biotechnology company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel cancer therapeutics,” said Dr. Tapolsky. “I look forward to working closely with the distinguished scientists at the University of Louisville’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center as we begin to advance our novel product pipeline for cancer patients.”
Dr. Tapolsky earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Paris and holds an M.B.A. from Rice University. He is the author or co-author of more than 40 scientific papers, abstracts and patients.
About Advanced Cancer Therapeutics (ACT):
ACT is a privately held company dedicated to advancing novel therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of cancer. ACT has successfully established a unique and innovative business model with the University of Louisville’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center (Brown Cancer Center) whereby ACT is able to obtain exclusive worldwide licenses to novel cancer therapeutics discovered at Brown Cancer Center under preset business terms. ACT then fast-tracks these discoveries, including the selection process for partnership, commercialization and manufacture, to the pharmaceutical industry, and ultimately to the patients who need them. Led by Dr. Don Miller, the Brown Cancer Center employs over fifty scientists focused on the discovery and advancement of breakthrough cancer therapeutics for patients suffering from cancer. For more information, please visit www.advancedcancertherapeutics.com.
About the University of Louisville’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center:
UofL’s James Graham Brown Cancer Center is part of the University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, the region’s leading academic, research and teaching medical center. The Brown Cancer Center is affiliated with the National Cancer Institute and the Kentucky Cancer Program. It is the only center in the region using a patient-centered model of cancer care, with multidisciplinary teams of physicians working together to guide patients through diagnosis, treatment and recovery.
Contact:
Randall B. Riggs, President & CEO
Advanced Cancer Therapeutics
Phone: (502) 345-8911
Email: rriggs@advancedact.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE