— McDowell joins with over two decades of biopharma legal and strategic experience at development and commercial stage companies
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cortexyme, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRTX), a biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other degenerative diseases, today announced Caryn McDowell, J.D. will join the company’s executive leadership team as Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and Corporate Secretary, effective May 11, 2020. In this newly created role, Ms. McDowell will lead Cortexyme’s legal, corporate governance, compliance, human resources, and administrative functions.
“As we continue to advance our pipeline and execute on the GAIN Trial, the ongoing Phase 2/3 clinical study of our lead investigational medicine, COR388, for mild to moderate AD, we are thrilled to add Caryn McDowell’s expertise to the Cortexyme leadership team,” said Casey Lynch, chief executive officer, chair, and co-founder of Cortexyme. “Caryn brings with her an impressive track record and a wealth of experience in biopharma corporate strategy, legal affairs and corporate governance. She will be a strong addition to the team as we continue to advance our foundational science.”
Ms. McDowell has over two decades of leadership in biopharmaceutical organizations, including C-level experience both at development and commercial stage public companies in multiple therapeutic areas. Her expertise includes corporate governance and legal support for commercial launch, compliance, and business development activities; she has played key roles in leading the structuring, negotiation and execution of global collaboration and licensing deals, as well as providing legal support for two sell side acquisitions worth approximately $18B to shareholders. Ms. McDowell joins Cortexyme from Revance, Inc., where, as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, she drove legal strategy, compliance, privacy, and corporate governance activities. Previously, she served as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer at Cytokinetics, Inc. and as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel at InterMune, Inc., where she was instrumental to the approval and launch of Esbriet® (pirfenidone) and the company’s acquisition by Roche. Earlier in her life sciences career, Ms. McDowell served in roles of increasing responsibility at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Affymax, Genentech, and Millennium Pharmaceuticals. Prior to her career in the biopharmaceutical industry, she served in federal and state government roles at the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and at the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, respectively. She obtained her J.D. from the Boston University School of Law and her B.A. from the University of Michigan.
“With a successful initial public offering, a Phase 2/3 clinical trial well underway, and multiple research publications over the past year, it’s an exciting time to join the Cortexyme team,” said Ms. McDowell. “I’m thrilled to work with this extraordinary group of experts working to better understand and develop therapies against degenerative diseases that present serious unmet medical needs. I look forward to contributing to the company’s progress toward potential new treatments for Alzheimer’s and other related conditions.”
About Cortexyme, Inc.
Cortexyme (Nasdaq: CRTX) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering a novel, disease-modifying therapeutic approach to treat what it believes to be a key underlying cause of Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative diseases. Cortexyme is targeting a specific, infectious pathogen found in the brain of Alzheimer’s patients and tied to neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in animal models. The company’s lead investigational medicine, COR388, is the subject of the GAIN Trial, an ongoing Phase 2/3 clinical study in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s. To learn more about Cortexyme, visit www.cortexyme.com or follow @Cortexyme on Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release contain “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “estimate,” “project,” “outlook,” “forecast” or other similar words. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our business plans and prospects, cash forecasts, the timing and success of our clinical trials and related data, the timing of announcements and updates relating to our clinical trials and related data, the timing of and our ability to enroll patients into our clinical trials, and the potential therapeutic benefits, safety and efficacy of our product candidate or library of compounds. Forward-looking statements are based on Cortexyme’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from what we expect. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 16, 2020, and other reports as filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of this date, and Cortexyme undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
Contacts
Hal Mackins
For Cortexyme, Inc.
hal@torchcomllc.com
(415) 994-0040