NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intra-Cellular Therapies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ITCI), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapeutics for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, announces the expansion of its senior management team with recent leadership appointments to the functions of commercial development and medical affairs.
Ashish Dugar, PhD, MBA joins the company as Vice-President of Commercial Development. In his role, Dr. Dugar will lead commercial development and market access efforts for the Intra-Cellular Therapies portfolio.
Dr. Dugar most recently served as Global Head, Clinical Development Science & Innovation at Roche, where he led the External Development Group and Scientific & Methodology Experts to advance assets into the pipeline. Prior to Roche, Dr. Dugar was VP, Biosimilars Strategy & Execution for Cardinal Health. Before joining Cardinal Health, he spent over 13 years at Pfizer Inc. in positions of increasing responsibility, including Global Head, Medicines Development Group for Biosimilars. He also held positions in Commercial Development, as Chief of Staff and Business Operations lead for the Specialty Care Business Unit, as Senior Medical Director for Specialty Neuroscience, and as Market Access & Reimbursement Lead for Neuroscience & Ophthalmology. Dr. Dugar received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and his M.B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University. He also completed a post-graduate Fellowship in Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Dugar joins Cedric O'Gorman MD, MBA, Vice President of Medical Affairs, who joined the company in December 2014. Dr. O'Gorman has over 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Intra-Cellular Therapies, he was the US medical lead for psychiatry at Genentech/Roche where he oversaw the clinical development program of bitopertin for schizophrenia. Before that he spent 5 years at Pfizer representing medical affairs on several branded neuroscience products including Geodon for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and Pristiq for major depressive disorder. Dr. O'Gorman received his medical degree from the National University of Galway in his native Ireland, trained in psychiatry at the Maudsley Hospital, at the Institute of Psychiatry (IOP) in London, England and completed his business degree at the New York University Stern School of Business.
Both Drs. Dugar and O'Gorman report directly to Sharon Mates PhD, CEO and Chairman.
"We are delighted that both Cedric and Ash have joined our company," said Dr. Mates. "Their appointments to lead the functions of medical affairs and commercial development respectively highlight the exciting progress being made by the company in the area of late stage drug development. Their experiences and skillsets are a great addition to the company at this pivotal time."
About Intra-Cellular Therapies
Intra-Cellular Therapies is developing novel drugs for the treatment of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases and diseases of the elderly, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. The Company is developing its lead drug candidate, ITI-007, for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, behavioral disturbances in dementia, depression and other neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. ITI-007, a first-in-class molecule, is in Phase 3 clinical development for the treatment of schizophrenia. The Company is also utilizing its phosphodiesterase platform and other proprietary chemistry platforms to develop drugs for the treatment of CNS and other disorders.