(Click
to Tweet this News) Flex Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLKS), a
biotechnology company that is developing innovative and proprietary
treatments for nocturnal leg cramps and spasms associated with severe
neuromuscular conditions, today announced that Flex Pharma Co-founder
and CEO, Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D., has been appointed to
the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Emerging Companies Section
Governing Board. Dr. Westphal was Co-Founder, CEO and lead investor of
Acceleron, Alnylam, Flex, Momenta, Sirtis and Verastem.
"Dr. Westphal and I have worked together closely for nearly 15 years on
several important companies, including Alnylam,” commented John
Maraganore, Ph.D., Alnylam CEO, BIO Board member, BIO Executive
Committee member, and Chair of the BIO Emerging Company Section.
“Throughout the years, I have always admired his focus on breakthrough
science that has the potential to generate important new therapies to
treat patients with unmet medical need. As an industry leader with a
proven track record, it is a pleasure to welcome Dr. Westphal to the BIO
Board, where I expect him to make strong contributions in our efforts to
preserve our industry’s innovation environment for biomedical research
and discovery.”
“I have collaborated with Dr. Westphal for over a decade on a number of
important biotech companies,” noted Henri Termeer, former Chairman and
CEO of Genzyme Corporation. “Successful entrepreneurs like Dr. Westphal
continually revitalize the biotechnology industry by bringing together
great scientific minds, talent and the fiscal resources required to
develop breakthrough scientific discoveries into important new therapies
for patients.”
"Dr. Westphal is a recognized leader in the development and growth of
successful biotechnology companies,” said Ron Cohen, M.D., Acorda CEO
and BIO Executive Committee member. “As co-founder, CEO and lead
investor of six companies that were taken public on NASDAQ, his deep
industry expertise and insights will be highly valuable contributions to
BIO.”
About BIO
BIO is the world's largest trade association representing biotechnology
companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and
related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other
nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of
innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental
biotechnology products.
About Flex Pharma
Flex Pharma, Inc. is a biotechnology company that is developing
innovative and proprietary treatments for nocturnal leg cramps and
spasms associated with severe neuromuscular conditions. In three
randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over studies, Flex
Pharma's proprietary treatment has shown a statistically significant
reduction in the intensity of muscle cramps in healthy normal volunteers.
Flex Pharma was founded by National Academy of Science members Rod
MacKinnon, M.D. (2003 Nobel Laureate), and Bruce Bean, Ph.D., recognized
leaders in the fields of ion channels and neurobiology, along with
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Christoph Westphal, M.D., Ph.D.
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