AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 20, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XBiotech Inc. (NASDAQ: XBIT) announced today the addition of Alice Gottlieb, M.D., Ph.D., to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Dr. Alice Gottlieb is internationally recognized for her expertise and pioneering work in the development of biological therapies to treat skin diseases. Dr. Gottlieb has played key roles in the clinical evaluation of therapies such as etanercept, infliximab, ustekinumab and secukinumab. Dr. Gottlieb will work to help guide the clinical development of bermekimab, the Company’s candidate antibody therapy for skin diseases.
Dr. Gottlieb is currently Professor of Dermatology at New York Medical College and former Chair of Dermatology and Dermatologist-in-Chief at the Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Gottlieb was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Dermatology from 2011-2015 and is the Founder and President of the Board of the International Dermatology Outcome Measures group and co-Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis. Dr. Gottlieb has authored 400 publications and presented her research at more than 200 conferences across the globe. She is triple-boarded in dermatology, rheumatology and internal medicine, one of only a handful of doctors in the U.S. certified in all three specialties. She obtained her M.D. from Cornell Medical School and her Ph.D. in immunology from the Rockefeller University.
Dr. Gottlieb commented, “I am delighted to join XBiotech’s Scientific Advisory Board and serve as the lead investigator for the ongoing Phase 2 study of bermekimab for hidradenitis suppurativa. This disease is painful, scarring and humiliating. We need new therapies which are effective in more patients and to a higher degree. I am looking forward to working with XBiotech to further develop bermekimab in dermatology.”
John Simard stated, “I am so delighted to have Alice join our team. We value her extraordinary insights and experience in developing biological treatments for skin diseases. I look forward to working together with her to advance our new therapy in dermatology.”
Dr. Gottlieb currently serves as the Study Chair for the Company’s on-going phase 2, open label clinical study to evaluate subcutaneous administration of bermekimab in patients with moderate to severe Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS). The study includes a 13 week treatment regimen, treating both patients having failed anti-TNF therapy and those with no prior anti-TNF treatment history. Results from a randomized, placebo controlled, Phase 2 study were published earlier this year in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, reporting a significant improvement in HS patients treated with bermekimab after 12 weeks of therapy (Response rate of 60% vs 10%, respectively (p=0.035)). The 20 patient study evaluated the safety and efficacy of bermekimab intravenous infusion in patients with HS not eligible for anti-TNF therapy. In the new study headed by Dr. Gottlieb, a subcutaneous formulation, that can be conveniently administered using the Company’s new pre-filled syringes, is being evaluated.
About True Human™ Therapeutic Antibodies
XBiotech’s True Human™ antibodies are derived without modification from individuals who possess natural immunity to certain diseases. With discovery and clinical programs across multiple disease areas, XBiotech’s True Human antibodies have the potential to harness the body’s natural immunity to fight disease with increased safety, efficacy and tolerability.
About XBiotech
XBiotech is a fully integrated global biosciences company dedicated to pioneering the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic antibodies based on its True Human™ proprietary technology. XBiotech currently is advancing a robust pipeline of antibody therapies to redefine the standards of care in oncology, inflammatory conditions and infectious diseases. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, XBiotech also is leading the development of innovative biotech manufacturing technologies designed to more rapidly, cost-effectively and flexibly produce new therapies urgently needed by patients worldwide. For more information, visit www.xbiotech.com.
