Date: 2014-10-22
Type of information: Nomination
Compound: vice-president, research
Company: Atyr Pharma (USA - CA)
Therapeutic area: Rare diseases - Genetic diseases
Type agreement: nomination
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Details:
- • On October 22, 2014, aTyr Pharma announced that rare disease expert John C. McKew, Ph.D., joined the company as vice president, research. Dr. McKew brings more than two decades of expertise in translational research, including key leadership positions at The National Institutes of Health, Wyeth Research and Genetics Institute, Inc. (prior to its acquisition by Wyeth). Dr. McKew will lead aTyr’s efforts to expand and translate its novel Physiocrine biology into meaningful therapeutics to treat rare, grave immune-driven disorders. Dr. McKew most recently served as the acting scientific director of the Division of Preclinical Innovation at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) within the National Institute of Health (NIH). His responsibilities included developing both the Therapeutics for Rare and Neglected Disease (TRND) and the Bridging Interventional Development Gaps (BrIDGs) programs. Both programs focus on novel public/private partnerships to advance drug discovery projects through preclinical development into early clinical development. Before joining the NIH, Dr. McKew held a director level position at Wyeth Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts. At Wyeth Research he led a variety of research initiatives including a hit-to-lead chemistry group which supported cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and metabolic disease therapeutic areas. Prior to Wyeth Research, he was employed by Genetics Institute, Inc., where he worked on translating novel inflammation targets into clinical candidates. Dr. McKew is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Boston University School of Medicine. He graduated from State University of New York at Stony Brook with B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry. He completed his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at University of California, Davis and held post-doctoral research positions at the University of Geneva and Firmenich, SA.
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