Emyria Ltd (ASX:EMD) has strengthened its board with the appointment of global pharmaceutical expert Dr Karen Smith, the founding CEO of Minderoo Foundation’s Eliminate Cancer Initiative supported by Dr Andrew Forrest AO, and a director at Acceleron Pharma, which was acquired by Merck for US$11 billion on November 22, 2021
Dr Smith, who has been advising Emyria since February 2021 as chair of its Strategic Advisory, will lead EMD’s US-based drug development and registration programs in cannabinoid and novel psychedelic medicines, having overseen more than 100 clinical trials and 20 drug registrations in major global markets.
Vast and invaluable experience
The trials and registrations Dr Smith has played a role in have led to product launches across diverse therapeutic areas including neuroscience, rare disease, oncology, cardiology, dermatology, oncology and anti-infectives.
Dr Smith also has a successful record of business development, including the acquisition of US and international companies, divestitures and negotiating partnership deals between biotech and pharma.
She has also held senior leadership positions at Allergan (NYSE:AGN) plc, AstraZeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb and earned an MD from the University of Warwick (UK), PhD in Molecular Oncology from UCLA (USA) and University of Western Australia (Australia), an MBA from the University of New England in Australia and LLM (Masters in Law) from the University of Salford (UK).
Dr Karen Smith brings high-level experience to EMD's board.
“We’re delighted to appoint Dr Karen Smith to our board. Dr Smith is a highly acclaimed and respected pharmaceutical executive, who has overseen multiple successful drug registrations and has already been advising Emyria since February as chair of our Strategic Advisory,” Emyria’s managing director Dr Michael Winlo said.
“Dr Smith has held key chief executive officer and chief medical officer roles at some of the most innovative biotech and pharmaceutical development companies in the world including the role of chief medical officer and global head of Research and Development at Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
"Jazz Pharmaceuticals recently acquired cannabinoid company GW Pharma for US$7.2 billion in February 2021, the only company to obtain FDA approval for a pharmaceutical formulation of CBD (Epidyolex).
“We believe Dr Smiths’ extensive experience, professional network and track record of successful drug registrations in biopharma will greatly benefit Emyria’s multiple drug registration programs.”
Heading toward FDA registration
Dr Smith will lead EMD’s US-based drug development programs for the company’s cannabinoid and psychedelic-assisted therapies focused on obtaining FDA registration.
“Emyria is uniquely placed to accelerate treatment development as one of only a few companies operating a network of clinical services, curating proprietary Real-World Evidence and developing novel treatments,” Dr Smith said.
“I look forward to assisting the team make progress on its global pharmaceutical development and registration goals.”