Pharmaxis Ltd (ASX:PXS, OTC:PMXSF) has placed the highly experienced Dr Jana Baskar, who has over 20 years’ experience in pharmaceutical and contract research companies, into to the role of Chief Medical Officer.
Dr Baskar will bring strong oversight to the clinical stage drug development company.
PXX is developing novel therapies to treat inflammatory and fibrotic diseases and will benefit by Dr Baskar’s experience in overseeing more than 70 phase I‐III trials of oncology treatments in his six years as Medical Director at Novartis Oncology in Australia.
Chief Executive Officer of Pharmaxis Gary Phillips said of the appointment, “We are delighted to welcome Dr Baskar to Pharmaxis, where his deep experience leading clinical programs will be an asset to the continued advancement of our pipeline.
“Dr Baskar brings significant oversight, clinical development and strategic expertise, having previously guided numerous programs through all phases of development. His extensive background and experience will be particularly valuable as the Company progresses its lead asset, PXS‐5505, towards clinical proof of concept in myelofibrosis and other oncology indications.”
About Dr Baskar
In his most recent role, Dr Baskar served as Medical Director for IQVIA in Australia and New Zealand where he also co-chaired the IQVIA ANZ Oncology Advisory Board providing strategic advice to Biopharma companies.
He holds a Master of Medical Science in Drug Development from the University of New South Wales, Sydney (MMedSc) and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the Australian Graduate School of Management.
Retirement of medical director
As Dr Baskar comes in, Pharmaxis founding scientist and Medical Director, Dr Brett Charlton, is retiring after more than 20 years’ service.
In that time, Dr Charlton has overseen development programs that lead to two products achieving global regulatory approval and the transition of several pipeline products into clinical development including Pharmaxis’ two lead assets in myelofibrosis (PXS‐5505) and scarring (PXS‐6302).
“I’d like to recognise and sincerely thank Dr Charlton for his extensive contribution to the Pharmaxis business and to advances in patient care. His experience and knowledge of transitioning drugs into early phase development has been extremely valuable and we will continue to seek his advice in a part time consultancy capacity until the end of 2022,” Phillips said.