Pharmaceutical Executive, Rick Burch named President of Innovative Med Concepts, LLC

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Feb. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mr. Burch joins Innovative Med Concepts, LLC (IMC); a Biotech company based in Tuscaloosa, AL, following his most recent role as V.P. and General Manager of the CNS Business Unit for UCB, a global biopharma company based in Brussels.  Prior to UCB, he had a 30-year career with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, starting as a sales rep and working his way up to Senior Vice President overseeing several divisions as large as 6,500 people and $11.5 billion in revenue.  Mr. Burch has launched over 20 pharmaceutical products with accountability for many "blockbuster" brands such as Celebrex, Lyrica, Aricept, Lipitor and Vimpat.

William L. Pridgen, MD, Chief Executive Officer of IMC said, "Rick brings extensive experience in general management, leadership, sales, marketing and commercial development in the pharmaceutical/biotech marketplace.  He is a results focused leader with experience building high performing teams.  Rick fully understands the challenges and opportunities inherent to the lifecycle activities and development needed to advance IMC-1, our flagship compound for the treatment of fibromyalgia."

Mr. Burch serves on the executive committee of the University of Alabama Business School Board, member of the University of Alabama President's Cabinet and the University of Florida School of Pharmacy Board.  Rick received a bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Alabama and Certificate: Finance and Accounting for the Nonfinancial Executive from Columbia University Graduate School of Business.

About Fibromyalgia:  More than 10 million Americans suffer from fibromyalgia.  Fibromyalgia is a debilitating condition with significant unmet medical need.  Symptoms can include wide spread pain, fatigue, headaches, sleep problems, mood changes and inability to concentrate.  The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown.  Currently approved medications for fibromyalgia focus on treating symptoms.  

About IMC-1:  IMC-1 is a novel combination oral medication designed to treat chronic tissue-resident herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), a condition that may be one of the underlying causes of the fibromyalgia syndrome.  IMC-1 is currently completing PRID-201, a phase 2 proof of concept trial in fibromyalgia, and expects to have topline results before mid-year 2014.  IMC hypothesizes that HSV-1 reactivation may directly or indirectly lead to many of the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia and related conditions in genetically susceptible individuals when they are exposed to physical or emotional life stressors that dysregulate immune responses.  Importantly, Innovative Med Concepts also plans to conduct trials using IMC-1 in other related conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

About Innovative Med Concepts: Innovative Med Concepts, LLC (IMC) is a biotech company developing novel treatments for fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and a number of other related conditions.  IMC's lead compound is IMC-1, which is currently completing a phase 2 trial in fibromyalgia.  IMC is also creating a fibromyalgia clinic licensing opportunity and a smart phone app that helps people who suffer from chronic pain and GI disorders.  The University of Alabama, in partnership with IMC is working on diagnostic tests for the treatment of fibromyalgia, IBS and other chronic ailments.

SOURCE Innovative Med Concepts, LLC