Vast Therapeutics has announced the appointments of former Aradigm Senior Medical Director Paul Bruinenberg as Chief Medical Officer and Chris Polage as Medical Director in preparation for clinical development of its ALX1 inhalation solution. Bruinenberg was most recently Senior Medical Officer of the TB Alliance. In addition to his stint at Aradigm, Bruinenberg’s past experience also includes medical roles at Eagle Pharmaceuticals, Aradigm Corporation, Astellas and Roche. Polage was most recently Medical Director of the Duke University Clinical Microbiology Laboratory.
ALX1 inhalation solution, which the company describes as a small molecule prodrug that produces sustained release of nitric oxide for up to 8 hours, is delivered via the PARI eFlow nebulizer system. Vast says that it intends to initiate Phase 1 development later this year, with studies in bronchiectasis patients expected to start in 2025.
Vast Therapeutics CEO Nate Stasko commented, “Paul’s development experience will guide Vast Therapeutics as we successfully transition to a clinical-stage organization. He’s been here before. His early-stage clinical experience in cystic fibrosis and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patient populations is a perfect match for our drug candidates that we believe will reshape the respiratory infectious disease landscape.”
Bruinenberg said, “It is an amazing opportunity to join a company with an accepted IND for a novel treatment modality that shows promising efficacy against chronic infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and non-tuberculosis mycobacteria. The high unmet medical need in this therapeutic area is significant. I am excited to advance our nebulized therapy to maximize clinical outcomes for these patients without concerns of renal toxicity and emergence of antibiotic resistance.”
Read the Vast Therapeutics press release.
