Torigen Pharmaceuticals Expands Leadership Team with Addition of Two Animal Health Industry Veterans
Company adds significant industry experience and business development capabilities to propel growth and expand availability of personalized cancer treatments for pets
FARMINGTON, Conn., Nov. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Torigen Pharmaceuticals Inc., a commercial-stage companion animal immuno-oncology company, today announced the addition of two deeply experienced animal health executives to the management team to help lead the company's next phase of growth. Michael Lucroy, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), joins as vice president of oncology business development, and Blake Hawley, DVM, MBA, has been appointed to the board of directors. Drs. Lucroy and Hawley will harness their deep understanding of the animal health industry and leverage their collective business development experience to help move Torigen forward.
"Drs. Lucroy and Hawley join us at a pivotal time in building out the business as we expand beyond our current offerings to maximizing the impact we have on pets with cancer," said Ashley Kalinauskas, CEO, Torigen. "During the past six months, Torigen's U.S. autologous cancer vaccine treatments have increased by an average of more than 40 percent per month, as compared with last year. Our newly formed team is poised to accelerate this growth while fulfilling our mission of making personalized cancer treatment accessible for pet owners and veterinarians."
Dr. Lucroy joins Torigen from MedVet, where, for the past several years, he was director of the Clinical Studies Center, leading research efforts across the 24-hospital organization. Prior to his role at MedVet, he spent four years in technology acquisitions at Elanco Animal Health and served on the faculties of Oklahoma State University and Purdue University. In assuming this newly created role at Torigen, Dr. Lucroy will be responsible for analyzing current data sets, identifying new therapeutic options and managing national immuno-oncology educational programs.
Dr. Hawley, a leader and innovative entrepreneur in the animal health space, is the founder and CEO of Motega Holdings Inc. (dba Motega Health), a joint venture with Shear-Kershman Laboratories, a 40-year pioneer in the food, pharma and nutraceutical space. Previously, Dr. Hawley served as the president and CEO for an Australian-founded startup, consultant for Jaguar Animal Health and chief commercial officer for Kindred Biosciences. Dr. Hawley has also held various senior management roles at Hill's Pet Nutrition, a division of Colgate-Palmolive, working across 23 countries and three continents.
"Torigen's core focus is educating veterinarians on the growing field of immuno-oncology," said Dr. Lucroy. "The clinical oncology space is seeking alternative treatment options that are safe, effective and affordable. I'm excited to bring new clinical data to the industry while identifying new opportunities to create a commercialization pipeline. As a small, nimble startup, this company can move quickly."
Cancer is the number-one cause of death in dogs over the age of two. One in four dogs will be impacted by cancer in their lifetimes. Torigen offers exciting potential for pets with cancer through its Autologous Prescription Product, which stimulates an immune response that targets and destroys the cancer cells specific to the patient.
"Torigen is putting together one of the top teams in the animal health industry today," said Dr. Hawley. "I'm looking forward to contributing to the board of directors and expect it will provide an opportunity for me to help mold and shape this company to become an industry leader in this critically important field of study."
Experimental autologous cancer vaccines created by Torigen Pharmaceuticals Inc. are regulated by the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics. Torigen's Autologous Prescription Product should be used under supervision/prescription of a licensed veterinarian. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
For more information, email [email protected], visit http://www.torigen.com or call 860-519-9956.
About Torigen Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Torigen Pharmaceuticals Inc. is focused on delivering affordable companion animal immuno-oncology products. Its initial patented product line utilizes a portion of the pet patient's tumor to create a personalized cancer vaccine. With over 10 years of supporting pre-clinical publications, the Torigen team is focused on developing innovative veterinary cancer biologics that allow for the body to recognize foreign tumor-associated antigens and facilitate the reversal of immune senescence. For more information, please visit http://www.torigen.com.
SOURCE Torigen Pharmaceuticals
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