Nasdaq

Athenex Names Christina Wang as Vice President of Clinical Operations and Corporate Development, Asia Pacific

04-06-2018

BUFFALO, N.Y., June 04, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Athenex, Inc. (Nasdaq:ATNX), a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel therapies for the treatment of cancer and related conditions, today announced the appointment of Christina Wang as Vice President of Clinical Operations and Corporate Development, Asia Pacific. 

Since 2016, Ms. Wang has served as a consultant for Athenex, engaged to advise on the company’s operations in Asia Pacific, particularly in the areas of clinical research and clinical operations. In her new role reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, Ms. Wang will lead the clinical operations in Asia Pacific and work closely with global research and development teams to advance the clinical pipelines and support the company’s Medical Officers, Dr. Rudolf Kwan and Dr. Wing Kai Chan.  She will also support corporate development efforts in the region, focusing on partnerships and expansion opportunities, with the goal of driving Athenex’s further growth in Asia Pacific consistent with global strategy. 

Ms. Wang has accumulated a wealth of experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical space, including in clinical operation, drug licensing, business development and strategic planning. Prior to Athenex, Ms. Wang was a co-founder of Choice Pharma, a reputable full-service CRO in Asia, and she was instrumental in growing the business and successfully merging Choice Pharma with Clinipace Worldwide, a global CRO, in 2014, whereupon she became Executive Vice President and Board member of Asia Pacific. She has also held various positions of leadership and increasing responsibility in Oneness Biotech Co., Ltd (Taiwan:4743), GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Merck Sharpe & Dohme, Bayer Healthcare and Schering-Plough.

“We are delighted that Christina has accepted this crucial and growing role,” said Dr. Rudolf Kwan, Chief Medical Officer. “Athenex is now at an important development phase where two of our lead drug candidates are making significant clinical progress in phase III, and our Asia Pacific platform continues to be critical in supporting our global clinical studies as well as paving the way for global commercialization. In January this year, we announced encouraging preliminary efficacy and safety data from a PK and Phase I/II clinical trial for Oraxol in the treatment of breast cancer in Taiwan, and Chinese FDA allowed the IND application for Oraxol to begin clinical trials in China. Christina has experience in operations in different countries within Asia and Europe, which will be very helpful for and add value to our global strategies.”

Ms. Wang commented, “I have worked with Athenex as an advisor and have seen first-hand the execution capabilities of the management team and the efficiency in conducting clinical studies. I was also impressed by the vision and the delivery of the global execution plan. I am delighted to join the Athenex family and help the growth of the company going forward.” Ms. Wang received a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the Kaohsiung Medical University and a master’s degree in Pharmacology from National Taiwan University.

About Athenex, Inc.
Founded in 2003, Athenex, Inc. is a global clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to becoming a leader in the discovery and development of next generation drugs for the treatment of cancer. Athenex is organized around three platforms, including an Oncology Innovation Platform, a Commercial Platform and a Global Supply Chain Platform. Athenex’s Oncology Innovation Platform generates clinical candidates through an extensive understanding of kinases, including novel binding sites and human absorption biology, as well as through the application of Athenex’s proprietary research and selection processes in the lab. The Company’s current clinical pipeline is derived from two different platform technologies Athenex calls Orascovery and Src Kinase Inhibition. The Orascovery platform is based on the novel oral P-glycoprotein pump inhibitor molecule HM30181A, through which Athenex is able to facilitate oral absorption of traditional cytotoxics, which Athenex believes may offer improved patient tolerability and efficacy as compared to IV administration of the same cytotoxics. The Orascovery platform was developed by Hanmi Pharmaceuticals and licensed exclusively to Athenex for all major worldwide territories except Korea, which is retained by Hanmi. The Src Kinase Inhibition platform refers to novel small molecule compounds that have multiple mechanisms of action, including the inhibition of the activity of Src Kinase and the inhibition of tubulin polymerization during cell division. Athenex believes the combination of these mechanisms of action provides a broader range of anti-cancer activity as compared to either mechanism of action alone. Athenex’s employees worldwide are dedicated to improving the lives of cancer patients by creating more active and tolerable treatments. Athenex has offices in Buffalo and Clarence, New York; Cranford, New Jersey; Houston, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Hong Kong; Taipei, Taiwan and multiple locations in Chongqing, China.

CONTACT:
Jim Polson
Tel: +1-716-427-2952
Athenex, Inc.