CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 28, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Indalo Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing integrin antagonists for patients suffering from serious fibrotic diseases such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), today announced that Robert Jacks has been appointed President & CEO. Mr. Jacks brings to Indalo 18 years of experience in biopharmaceutical product development, corporate strategy, business development, fundraising, commercial analysis, finance, and operations. He joins a seasoned leadership team with a history of scientific and business success. Chief Medical Officer Bill Bradford, MD, PhD, and Chief Scientific Officer Scott D. Seiwert, PhD, were senior leaders at InterMune, where they were instrumental in the development and approval of Esbriet® (pirfenidone) prior to the acquisition of the company by Roche in 2014.
Atlas Venture and F-Prime Capital co-led the company's $26 million Series A financing. BioGenerator, MTC, and iSelect Fund are among the company's other investors.
Indalo's lead drug candidate, IDL-2965, which is scheduled to enter the clinic in early 2019, is an oral, selective, RGD-binding integrin antagonist that inhibits the activation of TGF-β (a fibrogenic growth factor) as well as the ability of stiff extracellular matrix to promote fibroblast migration and survival. IDL-2965 displays potent antifibrotic efficacy at low once-daily doses across multiple models of disease in vital organ systems, including the liver, lung, and kidney. Indalo has completed a rigorous set of GLP toxicology and safety-pharmacology studies with IDL-2965 in preparation for human studies and has designed an efficient and adaptive Phase 1 program that enables assessment of safety, PK, and biomarker-based proof of mechanism in NASH and IPF patients.
"I'm thrilled to join Indalo at this critical point in its evolution to a clinical-stage biotechnology company," commented Mr. Jacks. "Indalo's differentiated approach, which targets key RGD-binding integrins on fibroblasts and epithelial cells to inhibit multiple processes of pathologic fibrosis, has the potential to transform the lives of millions of patients suffering from serious fibrotic diseases."
Mr. Jacks most recently served as the Co-Founder, President & CFO of Symbiomix Therapeutics, which achieved New Drug Application (NDA) approval for Solosec® prior to the company being acquired by Lupin, Inc., in 2017. Prior to Symbiomix, he worked for several private biotechnology firms, including Tobira Therapeutics and ACT Biotech. Mr. Jacks also previously served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence for OrbiMed and as a Director of Business Development for Pfizer, where he led the Licensing Leadership Teams for Oncology and Infectious Diseases. He received an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MSE in Civil Engineering from Stanford University, and a BSE in Civil Engineering from Duke University.
"As Indalo Therapeutics prepares to take its first drug candidate into clinical trials, Robert is an excellent addition to the leadership team. He has the right combination of knowledge and skills, and a proven track record driving clinical programs forward, leading to positive outcomes for investors and patients alike," said Peter Barrett, PhD, Partner at Atlas Venture and Chair of the Indalo Board of Directors.
About Indalo Therapeutics
Indalo Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing integrin antagonists for patients suffering from serious fibrotic diseases such as NASH and IPF. Indalo's novel chemistry is unique compared to other therapeutic options being explored, as it provides target specificity in small molecules with favorable drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic properties. The company's lead drug candidate, IDL-2965, is scheduled to enter the clinic in early 2019. IDL-2965 provides potent antifibrotic efficacy at low once-daily oral doses across multiple models of disease in vital organ systems, including the liver, lung, and kidney. Indalo's founders have investigated integrin antagonist biology and chemistry for decades, and its R&D leadership team was responsible for the development and approval of Esbriet® at InterMune. Atlas Venture and F-Prime Capital Partners co-led the company's $26 million Series A financing in 2017. The company has also received funding from BioGenerator, MTC, iSelect Fund, and other investors. Indalo's corporate office is located in Cambridge, MA. For more information, please visit www.indalotherapeutics.com.
About Atlas Venture
Atlas Venture is a leading biotech venture capital firm. With the goal of doing well by doing good, we have been building breakthrough biotech startups for over 25 years. We work side by side with exceptional scientists and entrepreneurs to translate high impact science into medicines for patients. Our seed-led venture creation strategy rigorously selects and focuses investment on the most compelling opportunities to build scalable businesses and realize value. For more information, please visit www.atlasventure.com.
About F-Prime Capital Partners
F-Prime Capital Partners is a global venture capital firm investing in life sciences, healthcare, and technology. Since 1969, F-Prime has worked closely with entrepreneurs and academics to create innovative solutions to some of the world's most significant challenges in healthcare and technology. For more information, please visit fprimecapital.com.
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SOURCE Indalo Therapeutics
