Acrux has appointed physician and biopharmaceutical executive Dr Jolanta Airey as its chief medical officer, strengthening its leadership team as it prepares to advance its female testosterone treatment toward Phase 3 clinical trials in the United States.
The Melbourne-based specialty company said Dr Airey will play a central role in shaping clinical development strategy, trial design and execution for the program, which Acrux is developing as a potential treatment for women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
Dr Airey brings more than 20 years of international experience across pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, spanning early-stage development, late-stage registrational trials and global product approvals. Her appointment comes as Acrux works to move its female testosterone treatment through pending FDA Phase III studies and toward potential commercialisation in the US, Europe, Australia and other target markets.
Of particular relevance to Acrux, Dr Airey previously served as a medical monitor on clinical trials involving the company’s testosterone formulation that ultimately supported the launch of Axiron, Acrux’s male testosterone product.
Her experience also includes a five-year tenure as chief medical officer at Cynata Therapeutics, where she oversaw clinical and medical strategy for a cell-based therapy pipeline, including Phase 3 and registrational studies. Earlier roles included director of translational development at CSL, as well as senior positions with Biota Pharmaceuticals and Kendle International, now part of INC Research.
Acrux chief executive John Warmbrunn said Dr Airey’s clinical and leadership experience would be important as the company works through the key milestones required to initiate its Phase 3 FDA trial.
He said her appointment would also support discussions with prospective co-development partners, which Acrux believes could reduce clinical development risk and accelerate the treatment’s entry into target markets.
Dr Airey said she was attracted by the opportunity to help progress a treatment intended to address an unmet need for women affected by hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
She said Acrux’s female testosterone program offered the prospect of a first-mover position and that she looked forward to contributing to its development, as well as helping advance the company’s broader intellectual property portfolio and its MDTS topical delivery technology.
