SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:FPRX), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing innovative immuno-oncology protein therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Robert Sikorski, M.D., Ph.D., to chief medical officer. In this role, he will oversee all clinical development (including clinical operations, pharmacovigilance, pharmacokinetics and biostatistics) and regulatory affairs, and will play a leading role in advancing Five Prime’s immuno-oncology portfolio.
“Dr. Sikorski’s promotion reflects his strategic and operational leadership of our clinical programs as well as the depth and breadth of his expertise in immuno-oncology,” said Lewis T. "Rusty" Williams, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Five Prime. “Bob and the team will be instrumental in developing Five Prime’s current clinical pipeline as well as launching future trials of therapeutic candidates in our pre-clinical pipeline.”
Prior to being appointed Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Sikorski was most recently Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Development, at Five Prime. Prior to joining Five Prime as Vice President of Global Clinical Development in 2014, Dr. Sikorski was Senior Director, Global Oncology Research and Development at MedImmune (the Biologics Division of AstraZeneca, PLC), where he and his team led the clinical development of a portfolio of immuno-oncology drugs. He also played a leading role in building this portfolio through partnering and acquisition efforts, that included OX40 (MEDI0562, MEDI06469, and MEDI06383), PD1 (AMP-514), CTLA4 (tremelimumab), an oncolytic virus, and TLR targeting assets. Prior to Medimmune, he served as Director, Global Oncology Research and Development at Amgen, where he led late stage clinical development and post marketing efforts for several oncology drug candidates. His seminal work on panitumumab (now marketed as Vectibix®) led to the drug's approval with a first-in-class companion diagnostic based on KRAS genotype. Dr. Sikorski began his career as a Howard Hughes Research Fellow and Visiting Scientist at the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Harold Varmus. Dr. Sikorski received an M.D. and Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine through a Medical Scientist Training Program scholarship. He completed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and an oncology fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, and is board certified in both medical oncology and internal medicine.
About Five Prime
Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. discovers and develops innovative therapeutics to improve the lives of patients with serious diseases. Five Prime's comprehensive discovery platform, which encompasses virtually every medically relevant extracellular protein, positions it to explore pathways in cancer, inflammation and their intersection in immuno-oncology, an area with significant therapeutic potential and a growing focus of the company's R&D activities. Five Prime has entered into strategic collaborations with leading global pharmaceutical companies and has promising product candidates in clinical and preclinical development. For more information, please visit www.fiveprime.com.
Cautionary Note on Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Five Prime’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in Five Prime’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” contained therein. Except as required by law, Five Prime assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.