Heart Metabolics Adds New Board Member And Expands Senior Management Team

DUBLIN and SAN FRANCISCO, May 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Heart Metabolics Limited (Heart Metabolics), a biotechnology company focused on the development of drugs for orphan diseases including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), today announced the appointment of Sean Gallagher to the board of directors and the addition of Charlotte Hartman, Pharm.D., as Vice President, Clinical Development.

"Sean brings a wealth of experience successfully developing emerging businesses in Ireland and will be an asset to our board," said Corey Goodman, Chairman of Heart Metabolics.

Mr. Gallagher is currently co-founder and CEO of Clyde Real Estate, a leading Irish commercial property firm and was co-founder and CEO of Smarthomes, Ireland's largest home technology company.  Mr. Gallagher has a long-standing commitment to helping support the creation of employment in Ireland and has served as A/CEO with the national network of County Enterprise Boards in Ireland.

"Heart Metabolics is developing a promising drug candidate for the treatment of patients with a debilitating genetic heart disease referred to as HCM," said Mr. Gallagher. "By helping Heart Metabolics develop this business and tap into the talent base Ireland has to offer, we have the potential to change the course of treatment for these patients and improve their lives." 

Dr. Hartman was previously Vice President, Clinical Development at Akebia Therapeutics where she was responsible for the development of Akebia's lead program, vadadustat, a novel therapy for the treatment of CKD-related anemia.  Prior to Akebia, Dr. Hartman spent ten years in anti-infectives clinical development at Pfizer and Targanta Therapeutics, during which time she helped gain FDA and EU approval for Zyvox (linezolid).  Dr. Hartman earned a doctorate of Pharmacy degree from the University of Texas and her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from The State University of New York at Buffalo.

"We have made important progress on the development of perhexiline for the treatment of patients with HCM, and are now building the clinical team to support the next phase of development," said William Daly, President and Chief Executive Officer of Heart Metabolics. "Charlotte is a fantastic addition to the development team and will help us advance the perhexiline program into Phase 3 development."

About Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

HCM is one of the most common of all hereditary heart diseases and the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young adults. HCM is a genetic defect of heart muscle that occurs due to deletions in genes that encode key contractile proteins in the heart. As a result, there is enlargement of the heart muscle that causes abnormal cardiac energetics. In later stages of the disease, patients develop debilitating and unrelenting symptoms of heart failure. There are more than 120,000 people in the U.S. with HCM who suffer from moderate-to-severe heart failure symptoms. The current treatment options for patients with this disease are limited, with no FDA-approved drugs.

About Perhexiline

Perhexiline is a carnitine palmitoyl transferase (CPT) inhibitor being developed by Heart Metabolics to treat symptoms in patients with HCM. Perhexiline blocks the uptake and metabolism of fatty acids by the heart, causing the heart to 'switch' to glucose as a fuel source. This results in improved myocardial energetic, reducing or even normalizing the energy imbalance created by the genetic defect that defines HCM. In addition, perhexiline has multiple ion channel effects that limit the potential for destabilizing ventricular arrhythmias. It is believed that perhexiline treatment of symptomatic patients with HCM may delay, prevent or even reverse progression of disease. In a Phase 2 clinical trial, perhexiline significantly improved peak oxygen consumption (VO₂ max), cardiac energetic status (myocardial phosphocreatine:ATP ratio), LV diastolic filling at rest and during exercise, symptoms, and quality of life.

About Heart Metabolics

Heart Metabolics is a biopharmaceutical company developing new treatments for orphan disease including cardio-metabolic diseases. The Company has obtained an Orphan Drug Designation in the US for the use of perhexiline to treat HCM patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms of heart failure. In addition, Heart Metabolics has reached agreement with FDA on a Special Protocol Assessment for a single, pivotal Phase 3 trial in about 350 HCM patients. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and founded in 2014, Heart Metabolics is funded by venBio, Brandon Capital Partners (on behalf of AustralianSuper), Seroba Life Sciences and AshHill Biomedical. More information is available at www.heartmetabolics.com.

SOURCE Heart Metabolics Limited

Related Links

http://www.heartmetabolics.com