Luke M. Beshar Appointed to Fluorinov Pharma Board of Directors

TORONTO, May 26, 2015 /CNW/ - Fluorinov Pharma (Fluorinov), a FACIT portfolio company, today announced the appointment of Luke M. Beshar to its Board of Directors.  His appointment strengthens Fluorinov's leadership team, adding financial and pharmaceutical industry expertise as Fluorinov accelerates its clinical development activities. 

"On behalf of the Fluorinov team, it is a pleasure to welcome Luke to the Board of Directors.  Luke has had a significant impact on the strategy, financial strength and success of multiple organizations," said Malik Slassi, PhD, President and CSO of Fluorinov. "His company-building experience is an essential component of our strategy to create a high-performing team to capitalize on the Fluorinov innovation platform and deliver superior therapies to patients battling cancer."

Mr. Beshar brings more than 35 years of leadership experience to Fluorinov's Board. Most recently, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mr. Beshar helped reposition NPS as a leading global rare disease biopharmaceutical company, and was a key member of the team that led a US$5.2 billion sale to Shire plc in February 2015.

"Together with our recent Board appointment of Dr. Roger Garceau, Luke will be a key leader in setting the strategic direction during this period of rapid growth for Fluorinov," said Jim Groninger, Board Director at Fluorinov and former Board Director at NPS Pharmaceuticals.  "His focus on positioning companies to maximize shareholder returns and enabling corporate strategic options will be a competitive advantage in advancing Fluorinov's best-in-class medicines."

Prior to NPS, Mr. Beshar served in leadership positions and as chief financial officer for numerous organizations including Cambrex Corporation, Dendrite International, Expanets, Inc., PNY Technologies, Inc., WSR Corporation, The Genlyte Group, Inc., Bairnco Corporation and Arthur Andersen & Co.

"Fluorinov has assembled a talented group and a compelling set of candidate medicines as a strong foundation for the fight against cancer," remarked Luke Beshar.  "I look forward to working alongside the experienced leadership team, helping Fluorinov achieve its financing and strategic goals, and making a real difference to the lives of people with cancer."   

Mr. Beshar is a graduate of The Executive Program, The Darden Graduate Business School at the University of Virginia and received a B.A. from Michigan State University. He is a member of the New York Society of Certified Public Accountants and serves on the board of directors at Trillium Therapeutics Inc. and REGENXBIO.

About FACIT
FACIT is an independent business trust established by OICR to undertake development and commercialization activities related to cancer research, products and drug discovery. For more information, please visit the website at facit.ca or email [email protected].          

About Fluorinov Pharma
The incorporation of fluorine into drug structures can improve potency, stability and safety, and other critical drug attributes.  Innovative breakthroughs by Fluorinov Pharma enable fluorine chemical synthesis never before possible and have the potential to transform promising compounds into superior clinical medicines. Fluorinov has a deep portfolio of potential best-in-class oncology drug candidates with attractive therapeutic profiles including oral therapies targeting the proteosome, bromodomains, survivin, PD1 and the blood-brain barrier. Visit www.fluorinovpharma.com

SOURCE Fight Against Cancer Innovation Trust

David O'Neill Ph.D, Vice President, Business Development, O: 647-260-7973, [email protected]