TORONTO, Nov. 5 /CNW/ - Trillium Therapeutics Inc., a privately held
biopharmaceutical company, announced today that industry veterans Dr. Michael
Berendt and Dr. John Dietrich have joined its Board as independent directors.
Trillium Chairman Dr. Michael Moore commented: "It is a great pleasure to
welcome these two experienced biotech executives to the Board where they will
enhance our capabilities in strategic planning and product development. Their
appointments are commensurate with completion of an internal financing round
of $12 million and the entry into clinical development of Trillium's lead
product, TTI-1612."
About Dr. Michael Berendt: Dr. Berendt is the President and CEO of Aegera
Therapeutics. Prior to joining Aegera, he served as managing director of
Research Corporation Technologies (RCT), a US-based technology investment and
management company, and AEA Investors Inc., where focusing on growth equity
investments in life sciences companies. Previously Dr. Berendt was Senior Vice
President of Research for the Pharmaceutical Division of Bayer Corporation. He
is currently a director of Waters Corporation and has served on the board of
directors of numerous other life sciences companies. Dr. Berendt received a
doctoral degree in medical microbiology and immunology from Hahnemann
University.
About Dr. John Dietrich: Dr. Dietrich joined Ventrus Biosciences in
April 2007, where he currently serves as Vice President, Clinical Operations.
From 2000 to 2007, Dr. Dietrich was Vice President of Research and Development
at VIVUS, Inc, prior to which he was Vice President of Research and
Development at Cellegy Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Dietrich served as Senior Vice
President of Research and Development at Allelix Biopharmaceuticals between
1991 and 1999. In this position, he was responsible for all aspects of drug
discovery and development. Before joining Allelix, he held management
positions at Chemex and Revlon Health Care. Dr. Dietrich received his PhD in
pharmacology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
About Trillium: Trillium Therapeutics Inc. is a private biopharmaceutical
company specializing in innovative therapies of immune-mediated conditions,
such as autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, as well as cancer. The
company's lead program, a recombinant heparin-binding epidermal growth
factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), is being developed for the prevention of
necrotizing enterocolitis and the treatment of interstitial cystitis. IND
filing on the lead product, TTI-1612, was submitted to the FDA in
October 2008. In addition, Trillium has two preclinical programs targeting the
CD200 immunoregulatory axis; a CD200-specific monoclonal antibody for the
treatment of cancer, and a CD200Fc fusion protein for the treatment of
autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company has a broad network of
external academic and industry R&D collaborations, including several license
agreements with major US biotechnology companies. To date the Company has
raised approximately $25 million in investment capital through Vengrowth
Private Equity Partners, Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund (CMDF) and BDC
Venture Capital.
For further information: Niclas Stiernholm, Ph.D., Chief Executive
Officer, Trillium Therapeutics Inc., 96 Skyway Avenue Toronto, Ontario, M9W
4Y9, Canada, Tel: (416) 595-0627, Fax: (416) 595-5835,
niclas@trilliumtherapeutics.com, www.trilliumtherapeutics.com
