Enteris BioPharma Enhances Executive Leadership Team to Target Strategic Growth Opportunities

BOONTON, N.J., Jan. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Enteris BioPharma, Inc., an industry leader in oral peptide and small molecule delivery, announced today the appointment of Joel Tune as Chief Executive Officer and the promotion of Paul Shields, Ph.D., to Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Tune and Dr. Shields, along with Brian Zietsman, President and CFO, will be responsible for leading Enteris BioPharma as the company pursues strategic alternatives to capitalize on multiple growth opportunities involving its proprietary oral delivery technology, highly-differentiated product pipeline, and cGMP compliant recombinant peptide and protein manufacturing facility. 

Utilizing its proprietary and patented oral delivery capabilities, Enteris BioPharma has an active internal product pipeline of reformulations, which includes Ovarest™, a Phase 2a-ready oral peptide for endometriosis, as well as an oral aminoglycoside for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI), for which the company anticipates filing an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) in the first half of 2016. External market analysis demonstrates projected annual US revenue potential for these two products in excess of $1 Billion in the aggregate.

Since its founding in 2013, Enteris BioPharma has advanced multiple internal and external programs leveraging its oral delivery technology. The technology has been developed and proven effective over the last decade to enable the safe delivery of peptide-based therapeutics and other molecules with low oral bioavailability. Currently, Enteris BioPharma's oral peptide delivery technology is the subject of several active external development programs, the most advanced of which include Tarsa Therapeutics' TBRIA (an oral calcitonin, NDA filed in October 2015) and an oral formulation of Cara Therapeutics' CR845 (a potent peripheral kappa opioid receptor agonist currently entering a Phase II trial for chronic pain). 

In addition to its oral delivery technology and drug development programs, Enteris BioPharma offers contract manufacturing of recombinant peptide and protein products via its recently enhanced 32,000 square foot, FDA inspected and cGMP compliant facility. 

Mr. Tune commented, "Enteris BioPharma is poised to return significant value in 2016 and beyond as the efforts of all of our employees, under the leadership of Brian and Paul, have the company well positioned with multiple growth opportunities. As CEO, my goal is to work internally and externally to accelerate this growth trajectory and capitalize on our industry-leading suite of technologies. I congratulate Paul on his promotion to COO and look forward to working with him and Brian to build on the successes that Enteris BioPharma has achieved since its founding."

Mr. Tune has more than 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and medical device arena. Most recently, he has been advising early stage and small pharmaceutical, biotech, contract services and medical device companies on a variety of matters including strategy, operations and business development. Mr. Tune has also served as Executive Chairman for Enteris BioPharma since April 2014.

His career is further highlighted by numerous high-profile executive and managerial positions, including 28 years with Baxter Healthcare in progressively larger roles in product development, sales and marketing, strategy, M&A and general management. Notably, as Vice President and General Manager of Baxter Healthcare's Global Drug Delivery Business, Mr. Tune led the rapidly growing $800 million franchise that provided technology and services for leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies across the globe. As Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for the Medication Delivery Group, Mr. Tune managed a business development team that successfully completed more than 20 transactions, which opened up new geographies, consolidated markets or diversified the business into new market or technology segments. Mr. Tune holds an MBA from Marquette University and a BS in Biomedical engineering from the University of Louisville.

Prior to his promotion to Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Shields served as Enteris BioPharma's Vice President of Operations since the company's founding in July 2013. Dr. Shields previously served as the Vice President, Manufacturing Operations for Unigene Laboratories from 2005 to 2013, where he managed commercial CMC operations for recombinant active ingredients and clinical and commercial supplies of nasal spray and solid dose products. Dr. Shields brings more than 24 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, focusing on Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) for a variety of products.

About Enteris BioPharma
Enteris BioPharma, Inc. is a privately held, New Jersey-based biotechnology company offering innovative formulation solutions built around its proprietary drug delivery technologies and contract manufacturing of recombinant peptide and protein products. Enteris' proprietary oral delivery technology has been the subject of numerous feasibility studies and active development programs, several of which are in late stage clinical development. For more information on Enteris BioPharma and its proprietary oral delivery technology and contract manufacturing capabilities, please visit http://www.EnterisBioPharma.com.

SOURCE Enteris BioPharma, Inc.

Related Links

http://enterisbiopharma.com