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Richard Messmann joins Endocyte's executive management teamWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - July 14, 2005 - Endocyte Inc. has appointed Richard Messmann, M.D., M.H.S, M.Sc., to the position of vice president clinical affairs. In his new role, Dr. Messmann will lead the West Lafayette biotechnology company's clinical program. "I am extremely pleased that Dr. Messmann will be joining our executive team at such an exciting time in our clinical development program," said P. Ron Ellis, Endocyte's CEO. "Richard brings a wealth of scientific, government and industry experience to Endocyte. We look forward to his contributions as we strive to develop receptor-targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases." Prior to joining Endocyte, Dr. Messmann was director of cancer research for the Great Lakes Cancer Institute, a joint research partnership between Michigan State University and McLaren Health Care Corp. His past experience also includes serving as a clinical research physician for medical oncology at Eli Lilly and Co. and as the deputy associate director of the Developmental Therapeutics Program in the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis at the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health. Dr. Messmann received his medical degree from Wayne State University and conducted postgraduate work, including a clinical fellowship in medical oncology, at the National Cancer Institute; an internal medicine residency at Michigan State University; and residency in anesthesiology with advanced training in critical care and pain management at the University of Michigan and Georgetown University. He holds master's degrees in clinical research and biochemistry from Duke University and Wayne State University, respectively. He is the author of numerous book chapters and has published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Blood and Clinical Cancer Research. About Endocyte Endocyte Inc. is an innovative biotechnology company developing a new generation of receptor-targeted therapeutics, or "smart drugs," for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Current non-targeted drugs are usually toxic to normal healthy cells causing side effects, some of which can be serious and/or fatal. These side effects can lead to suboptimal dosing in order to minimize toxicities. Endocyte has two compounds in clinical trials: EC20, a targeted diagnostic agent that has completed Phase II studies, and EC17, a targeted immunotherapy that is being evaluated in Phase I studies. A third targeted drug, EC145, will begin Phase I testing early next year. The company's initial development focus is on a receptor for the vitamin folic acid, which is often over-expressed in cancer cells. Through a number of collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry and universities, Endocyte is investigating its proprietary targeting technology to reduce toxicities and improve specificity of a variety of anticancer drugs. For more information, visit Endocyte online. CONTACT: Marchell Baker, (765) 463-7175 ext. 1121, (765) 463-4621 (fax), marchellbaker@endocyte.com |
