Gentris Corporation Announces Changes to Board of Directors

MORRISVILLE, N.C., Sept. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Gentris Corporation (www.gentris.com), a global leader in applying genomic biomarkers to clinical studies, announced today that Dr. David J. Drutz will chair the Board of Directors.  Dr. Drutz, who has had a distinguished career in medicine, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and venture capital, joined the Gentris Board a year ago.  Tim Gupton, a highly experienced biopharma entrepreneur, and leader in accounting and finance, has also become a Board member.

Dr. Drutz, a board-certified internal medicine and infectious disease specialist, was formerly Professor of Medicine and Chief of Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.  While in San Antonio, he founded and directed the NSF Center for Cell Regulation, an innovative public-private partnership focused on expanding research opportunities between academia and industry and enhancing local economic growth.

With an interest in commercial translation of new technologies, Dr. Drutz joined Smith Kline & French Laboratories in 1986 as a vice president and managed resources in both drug discovery and clinical research.  In 1990, he joined Daiichi Pharmaceutical Corporation, as the first U.S. employee, and built and managed both its clinical and regulatory areas.  Moving into biotechnology, Dr. Drutz assumed CEO positions at Sennes Drug Innovations (Houston, TX) and Inspire Pharmaceuticals (Durham, NC).  In 1999, he became a general partner in Pacific Rim Ventures Co., Ltd., a Japan-based venture capital firm, with subsequent investments in the U.S., Canada, Germany, the U.K., and Japan.

Dr. Drutz recently stepped down after eleven years as chairman of Tranzyme Pharma with the filing of its IPO, having been a co-founder of the company through his partnership in Pacific Rim Ventures.  Tranzyme (NASDAQ: TZYM), Durham, NC, is developing novel therapeutics for GI motility disorders.  He is also a director of two public companies (DARA Biosciences, Raleigh, NC, and MethylGene Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada) as well as another private company (Vaxin, Inc.; Birmingham, AL).  In addition, Dr. Drutz is a member of the Genome Canada Science and Industry Advisory Committee (SIAC).  Genome Canada, a not-for-profit organization established in February 2000, is mandated by the Government of Canada to develop and implement a national strategy for supporting large-scale genomics and proteomics research projects throughout the country.

Tim Gupton is a CPA and partner with Hughes, Pittman & Gupton, LLP (http://www.hpg.com/partners/gupton) and former partner with KPMG.  He has had a broad cross-section of audit, tax, finance, and M&A responsibilities for companies in the biopharma, healthcare services, clinical research, lab services, and medical technology industries.  Mr. Gupton joined KPMG in 1972 and Hughes Pittman & Gupton, LLP, in 1992, where his practice has been centered on entrepreneurial business ventures, primarily in the life sciences industry.

Mr. Gupton has served as the start-up CFO for seven biopharmaceutical start-ups in the Research Triangle area.  He is currently the CFO for CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, which is developing a new migraine drug.  In addition to launching and managing start-ups, Mr. Gupton was a founder and general partner for Research Triangle Ventures, which is an investor in Gentris.

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Quotes:

"As Gentris enters its second decade, the Company is fortunate to have experienced executives like Dr. David Drutz and Tim Gupton serving on the Board of Directors," said Rick Williams, CEO of Gentris Corporation. "Dr. Drutz and Mr. Gupton have been involved in many facets of the biopharma industry.  They understand how to guide a senior management team and its advisors to create scientific innovation and generate high-growth commercial results."

"Pharmacogenomics is directed to understanding how drugs interact with our genetic makeup," said Dr. David Drutz, chair of the Gentris board of directors.  "As such, pharmacogenomics enables therapeutic agents to be directed toward those individuals most likely to have a favorable clinical response and away from those most likely to suffer adverse effects.  Pharmacogenomics serves as a centerpiece for the future of drug development in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.  I am delighted to be associated in such an important way with a well-established company that is working at the cutting edge in this exciting endeavor."

"As an investor from Research Triangle Ventures," Tim Gupton said, "I've been associated with Gentris since its inception.  Gentris has always been driven by excellent science and quality standards and has been a leader in helping the pharmaceutical industry to use genetic data to differentiate their drug candidates.  With clinical biomarkers becoming an expectation for drug development, I'm confident that Gentris will remain a leader in the rapidly growing field of personalized medicine."

About Gentris Corporation:

Founded in 2001, Gentris is located in Research Triangle Park, NC, where it provides support for all phases of clinical studies and genomic biomarker programs.  The Company works with academic and industry leaders to translate innovations in pharmacogenomics into safer, more effective medicines, which can lead to accelerated drug development and improvement in patient care globally.  In the past year, Gentris significantly expanded its facility and onsite biorepository to meet the increased needs of biopharma clients, while maintaining a preeminent quality system.

The Gentris team has collaborated with sponsors to incorporate pharmacogenomics into more than five hundred clinical trials around the world.  Its scientists routinely design complex de novo genomic assays.  The Company's Integrated BioRepository Solutions business unit manages study-site logistics, conduct genomic assessments, and store patient biospecimens.

For additional information, please visit www.gentris.com or call 919.653.5534.

Keywords:

Gentris Corporation, Genomics, Clinical Genomics, Genomic Biomarkers, Pharmacogenomics, Pharmacogenetics, Personalized Medicine, Individualized Medicine, Biomarkers, Genomic Assays, Genomic Methods, Hepatitis, Oncology, Cancer, Immunology, Biobanking, Biorepository, Biospecimens, Integrated BioRepository Solutions.

SOURCE Gentris Corporation