Biopharma veterans Robert Mulroy and Debasish Roychowdhury launched Partner Therapeutics, an oncology company that will specialize in bringing approved and late-stage therapies to the patients who need them.
Mulroy, who resigned as Merrimack Pharmaceuticals CEO in October 2016, will take the reins at Partner Therapeutics, or PTx, according to a statement. And Roychowdhury, PTx’s chief medical officer, previously served as clinical development VP at GlaxoSmithKline, headed the oncology unit at Sanofi and led the global oncology regulatory group at Eli Lilly.
The duo will tap their biopharma expertise—which spans drug discovery, development, approval and launch, capital raises and financial transactions—to develop and commercialize approved and late-stage treatments with the ultimate goal of boosting outcomes and cutting the cost of care.
“We formed PTx to address gaps in treatment and improve cost effectiveness of cancer care through a mission-driven organization focused on exceptional execution on behalf of patients,” Mulroy said.
Unlike your average oncology startup, which zeroes in on a target or targets and seeks to carry its prospects through development, PTx will assemble its portfolio by acquiring promising programs, the company said. And it will cover the whole spectrum of cancer treatment, from primary therapies to supportive care.
“We are committed to building a company that serves as a true partner to improve patient care,” said Roychowdhury. “We believe PTx can serve as a critical link between the investigators pushing the boundaries of our understanding of cancer and the healthcare professionals working to achieve the best outcomes for each and every patient.”
By Amirah Al Idrus
Source: Fierce Biotech
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