Ensysce is developing proprietary TAAPTM/MPARTM
prodrug delivery and overdose technology to stem the opioid abuse
epidemic
SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/opioid?src=hash" target="_blank"gt;#opioidlt;/agt;–Ensysce Biosciences Inc., a clinical phase drug development company with
innovative technologies to curb prescription drug abuse and overdose,
today announced two appointments to its senior management team. Kurt
Schmidt has been appointed as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr.
Schmidt is coming on board just as the company is rapidly progressing
its lead TAAPTM product, PF614 through clinical development
to help stem the opioid crisis that is facing America. Geoff Birkett is
joining as the Chief Commercial Officer to position the company’s
therapeutic pipeline in the marketplace.
Mr. Schmidt has over 30 years of experience in helping build early stage
companies as they progress from development to commercialization. He has
lived and worked in both the US and Europe and recently held positions
at healthcare companies MDxHealth and Agendia where he was CFO. He will
be responsible for finance strategy and business expansion at Ensysce.
“I look forward to working with the team to bring solutions to our
healthcare system,” said Mr. Schmidt. “My near-term focus will be on
raising capital to support our ongoing clinical trials. I am especially
encouraged by the support of our programs by the FDA with Fast-Track
designation and the recent award from the NIH through the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, which shows the importance placed on our work
by the government.”
Mr. Birkett has over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical
industry with a focus on CNS, oncology, pain and addiction. He is the
former SVP of Global development and Marketing for CNS/Oncology products
at AstraZeneca and has launched such brands as Nicorette, Prozac,
Seroquel and Zomig. Most recently he has acted as consultant with
several pharmaceutical companies on development strategy and marketing.
“Ensysce is leading the challenge of entering the opioid space when the
political and regulatory climate is looking for new answers for
analgesia. Opioid products are necessary for many indications, and
Ensysce is providing an option for both patients and prescribers that
can reduce abuse and stem overdose from these prescription products.
Kurt and Geoff recognize the opportunities to contribute to this effort
and are coming on board to aid our financing goals and commercial
activities for the coming years,” said Dr. Kirkpatrick, CEO of Ensysce
Biosciences. “Our TAAPTM oral prodrug technology and MPARTM
overdose protection, both unique to the industry, have already
demonstrated exceptional clinical results. We look forward to rapidly
progressing these through clinical development so the public can benefit
from these safer alternatives.”
About Ensysce Biosciences:
Ensysce is a clinical phase drug development company with a focus on
prodrug compositions to overcome abuse, especially for the highly abused
opioid and ADHD prescription drugs. As prescriptions for opioids have
risen sharply over the last two decades, rates of addiction and overdose
deaths have dramatically increased. Drug overdose deaths are now the
leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. Abuse Deterrent
Formulation (ADF) opioids have not stemmed this epidemic. Ensysce’s
Trypsin Activated Abuse Protection (TAAPTM) and Multi-Pill
Abuse Resistance (MPARTM) products will change that and
provide a promise of halting opioid deaths. Ensysce’s TAAPTM/MPARTM
platforms are covered by an extensive worldwide intellectual property
portfolio for a wide array of prescription drug prodrug compositions. www.ensysce.com
Contacts
Lynn Kirkpatrick, PhD
CEO
Ensysce Biosciences Inc.
www.ensysce.com
858-242-1553
Kurt Schmidt
CFO
Ensysce Biosciences Inc.
www.ensysce.com
858-242-1553