Dr. Patchen joined Biothera last fall on a part-time basis as Vice President of Pharmaceutical Development. In her new role, Dr. Patchen has accepted a full-time position with responsibility for all of the company’s drug development efforts. Biothera recently began a Phase I clinical trial with Imprime PGGTM, an immunotherapy that will be administered in combination with monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer.
“Myra is the ideal person to lead our pharmaceutical development efforts,” said Daniel Conners, Biothera Chairman. “She has extensive experience in all aspects of drug development and is one of the world’s leading researchers on beta glucan, the compound that is the basis of our technology platform.”
Before joining Biothera, Dr. Patchen was a consultant to drug development companies. Previously she was chief executive officer of Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bethesda, MD. At Sucampo, Dr. Patchen led the filing of nine separate Investigational New Drug Applications (INDs), one of which progressed to a New Drug Application in just over five years after the IND filing. Prior to Sucampo, Dr. Patchen conducted extensive beta glucan research during her tenures at Alpha-Beta Technology and the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute.
Patchen has a B.S. and M.S. in Biology from Bowling Green State University and a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Texas, Houston. She completed postdoctoral research at the Defense Nuclear Agency’s Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD.
About Biothera, the Immune Health Company
Biothera is a biotechnology company dedicated to improving immune health. The company's primary focus is developing pharmaceuticals whose unique mechanism of action engages immune cells not normally involved in the fight against cancer. In addition, Biothera’s healthcare group manufactures and markets food-grade immune-enhancing ingredients for the nutritional supplement, functional food, cosmetic and the animal feed and nutrition markets.
Contact:
David Walsh
VP, Communications
Biothera, the Immune Health Company
651-256-4606
dwalsh@biotherapharma.com