Medical dermatology company Botanix Pharmaceuticals has announced the appointment of Dr Michael Thurn as Chief Operating Officer.
Dr Thurn has experience in drug development, having recently led development of a topical treatment for acne being developed by venture capital backed company Mimetica.
As CEO of Mimetica, Dr Thurn guided a melancortin-5 receptor targeting drug from pre-clinical testing through completion of a Phase 2 clinical trial. Before Mimetica, Dr Thurn worked with the TGA and also led Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, which was recently sold to Novartis in a $700 million transaction.
“We are very pleased to welcome Dr Thurn to the team,” said Botanix executive director Matt Callahan. “Dr Thurn brings highly relevant experience and technical knowledge to the program which will help accelerate development of BTX1503 for acne, as well as our pipeline products.”
Botanix’s lead program for acne utilising synthetic cannabidiol is currently being readied for first clinical studies in the first half of this year.
“Dr Thurn’s experience in conducting studies in Australia and the US, combined with his extensive business contacts with a range of dermatology companies, will help us rapidly advance the Company’s pipeline of Permetrex enabled skin treatment products, as well as support our business development activities,” said Mr Callahan.