– USA, CA – Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel, small-molecule therapeutics to activate innate homeostatic pathways for the treatment of metabolic diseases, announced the appointments of Dr. Roy Baynes (M.D., Ph.D.) and Susan Graf to its Board as independent directors.
About Dr. Roy D. Baynes
Dr. Baynes currently serves as CMO of Eikon Therapeutics. Dr. Baynes was previously CMO and head of clinical development at Merck, where he supervised the entire clinical portfolio in Merck Research Laboratories and was the architect of the development strategy for dozens of important new medicines including Keytruda. Before Merck, he held clinical development leadership positions for oncology, respiratory and inflammation at Gilead Sciences and hematology/oncology at Amgen. Before transitioning to industry, Dr. Baynes held academic positions at universities in South Africa and the United States in hematology and oncology, in addition to leading the bone marrow transplantation service at the Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University in Detroit, where he was professor of medicine and oncology, and the Charles Martin Professor of Cancer Research.
Roy Baynes received his degree in medicine and surgery (MB, BCh) from the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he also received an MMed (specialist registration) and completed a Ph.D. exploring human iron metabolism.
About Susan E. Graf
Susan Graf is currently a senior advisor and entrepreneur in residence at Locust Walk Partners, LLC, a global life science transaction firm. Ms. Graf previously served as CEO of biotechnology company Akamara Therapeutics. Before Akamara Therapeutics, she was CBO and principal financial officer at Epizyme, a biopharmaceutical company. Before Epizyme, she held the position of VP of corporate development and strategy for NPS Pharma prior its acquisition by Shire in 2015. Earlier in her career, she spent close to two decades at Roche in several leadership and executive positions. She currently serves on the Board of Directors and chairs the audit committee of CG Oncology, and serves on the Board of Directors of Kaléo, a privately held pharmaceutical company.
Susan Graf has an M.B.A. from the Stern School of Business at New York University and a B.Pharm. from Purdue University.
About Aardvark Therapeutics, Inc.
Aardvark is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel, small-molecule therapeutics to activate innate homeostatic pathways for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Its portfolio of small molecule programs targets biological pathways associated with alleviating hunger. Aardvark’s lead product candidate, ARD-101, targets Bitter Taste Receptors (TAS2Rs) expressed in the gut lumen, inducing secretion of engogenous singaling molecules, including the satiety hormone cholecystokinin (CCK), which in turn activates gut-brain signals to suppress the sensation of hunger. This potential first-in-class oral investigational drug demonstrated favorable clinical activity and was well-tolerated in Phase 2 trials and has entered Phase 3 development for hyperphagia associated with Prader-Willi Syndrome, for which Aardvark has been granted an Orphan Drug Designation. Additionally, Aardvark intends to advance ARD-101 into Phase 2 development for hyperphagia associated with hypothalamic obesity, with a goal of addressing significant unmet needs across both these rare disease indications. Aardvark is also developing ARD-201, which will be a fixed-dose combination of ARD-101 with a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, with a goal of addressing some of the limitations of currently marketed GLP-1 therapies for the treatment of obesity and obesity-related conditions.
For more information: https://aardvarktherapeutics.com/
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