N30 Pharma Names Sherif Gabriel, Ph.D. as Vice President of Research

BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the addition of Dr. Sherif Gabriel to its senior leadership team.

Prior to joining N30 Pharma, Dr. Gabriel was on the faculty of the University of North Carolina Cystic Fibrosis Center, Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Correction Core of the Center, and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology.  Dr. Gabriel's career has revolved around the molecular regulation of ion and fluid balance in the human lung and gastrointestinal tract.  Specifically Dr. Gabriel has been characterizing the mechanisms that mediate effective ion channel activity across epithelial tissues, particularly diseases of disrupted ion and fluid homeostasis such as Cystic Fibrosis ("CF") and secretory diarrhea. It is his expertise and extensive history in CF that first attracted N30 Pharma to Dr. Gabriel.  Dr. Gabriel will oversee all internal research at N30 Pharma, as well as external collaborations and the N30 Pharma scientific advisory board.

"I am delighted that Dr. Gabriel has elected to join the N30 Pharma team," commented Dr. Charles Scoggin, N30 Pharma Chief Executive Officer.  "The area of Cystic Fibrosis research is highly specialized, and electrophysiology of the chloride, and other channels, affected by CF is particularly unique.  The people with specific expertise in this discipline are very limited, and Dr. Gabriel is definitely considered one of the leaders, particularly as it relates to CF drug development.  I believe his hiring significantly improves N30 Pharma's competitive position, and transplants over 20 years of Cystic Fibrosis related research into the Company.  His giving up a tenured position to join N30 Pharma should be seen as an endorsement of the potential he sees with N30 Pharma drug candidates and over-all quality of N30 Pharma science." 

Dr. Gabriel added, "I am delighted to join the Company and become part of an outstanding group of scientists and physicians diligently working towards, first treating Cystic Fibrosis, and secondly, a variety of diseases in which the N30 Pharma platform appears to have profound effects.  This is a very unique opportunity in which I can continue my commitment towards CF in an environment that is poised to rapidly alter the course of this devastating disease.  I am very grateful to my colleagues at UNC, and look forward to continuing and expanding my collaborations within the CF community."

About N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
N30 Pharma is a privately held, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. N30 Pharma is developing medicines that promote human organ repair, regeneration and healing.  N30 Pharma's first class of drugs focuses on enhancement and conservation of the human body's own natural pool of nitric oxide.  This is particularly relevant to Cystic Fibrosis, an important, lethal human condition.   N6022, a novel modulator of s-nitrosoglutathione reductase, is the lead product in N30 Pharma's portfolio of drugs, recently completed Phase 2a testing, and is currently in preparation for clinical testing in the F508del mutation of Cystic Fibrosis.

SOURCE N30 Pharmaceuticals, Inc.