Allecra Therapeutics has appointed Dr Engelbert Tjeenk Willink as chairman of the board as the company enters its next phase of development.
Previously a member of the board of managing directors at Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Willink (pictured right) brings over 25 years experience within the pharmaceutical industry.
He said: “Allecra is a dynamic company with the potential to make a significant impact on the growing and widespread epidemic of drug-resistant bacterial infections.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute towards its success.”
Dr Leon Hooftman also joins Allecra as its new chief medical officer (CMO), bringing over 20 years of experience in biopharmaceutical drug development.
Most recently serving as CMO for Polyphor, Hooftman (pictured left) has held several senior positions for the likes of Celltech Group plc and Chroma Therapeutics.
He said: “Allecra is working directly on Gram-negative resistant infections in the hospital, an area of urgent unmet medical need recently highlighted by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and by the US Center for Disease Control (CDC).
“Allecra’s technology provides an important new treatment for hospital clinicians who are grappling with these types of infection.”
Hooftman’s new role will see him focus on combating multi drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections.
Nicholas Benedict, CEO at Allecra, said: “The appointments of Bert and Leon mark a watershed in the development of Allecra.
“Regulatory authorities have recognised the potential that Allecra’s novel antibiotic may contribute towards solving the crisis of resistant bacterial infections, and out lead development programme has been significantly expedited.
“With these new appointments, Allecra is strengthening its expertise as the company advances its development activities for a potentially important new antibiotics treatment for patients.”