The Aberdeen company developing what could be the first oral treatment to tackle the tau protein pathology of Alzheimer's disease has appointed a new head of strategic development.
Aine Mishra has joined TauRx Pharmaceuticals to take up the newly created role after spending more than 15 years in international engineering, strategy and transformation, and has a strong track record of delivering practical, growth-focused solutions.
The qualified engineer joins from EY (Ernst & Young), where she was a change management consultant and supported clients in developing and implementing corporate transformation strategies.
Aine Mishra
Mrs Mishra, who has served as a non-executive director on the board of trustees at Mental Health Aberdeen since February last year, said: “I’m thrilled to have joined TauRx at what is a hugely exciting yet critical time for the business.
“It's an honour to be part of such a dynamic, mission-driven team focused on making a real impact in the lives of people affected by Alzheimer's disease. I’m inspired every day by the work we’re doing and can’t wait to contribute to our shared vision both for those living with Alzheimer’s, but also other neurodegenerative conditions.
“It’s also an exciting opportunity to highlight the North-east of Scotland as a growing centre for life sciences and innovation – showcasing the region’s ability to contribute to breakthroughs with global significance.”
Part of the newly created role will involve developing business cases for next generation molecules and indications beyond Alzheimer’s disease, and TauRx chief commercial officer and chief business officer Dr Glenn Corr believes her varied experience will be crucial.
Dr Glenn Corr
He said: “Aine comes with a strong track record of success across different roles, which will be invaluable as we continue our journey to commercialisation. As well as developing HMTM, our scientists have developed a pipeline of pathologies outside of Alzheimer’s disease such as CTE and Parkinson’s disease, which Aine will help build the business case for.
“Her experience in the energy sector, where she has had to contend with stringent regulations and shifting strategies leaves her well-placed to be a key part of the TauRx journey and we are pleased to have her on board.”
Mrs Mishra joins the company as it awaits the outcome of its Marketing Authorisation Application for its drug, hydromethylthionine mesylate (HMTM), which is currently being reviewed by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). If granted approval, HMTM could be the first oral treatment for Alzheimer’s disease that targets the tau protein pathology.
Meanwhile, TauRx Pharmaceuticals Ltd has also appointed leading industry figure Dr Michael Cooper as an independent non-executive director to its board.
Dr Michael Cooper
Dr Cooper is currently an internal consultant in the Office for Life Sciences (OLS) for the UK Government and has previously held positions in Trinity Delta and Edison Investment Research, where he was Head of Research, Healthcare.
He will contribute to the strategic direction and governance of TauRx Pharmaceuticals, as well as provide advice to the organisation on matters related to financing and operations. While he will continue to work with the OLS, Dr Cooper will not be involved in any discussions involving dementia within the government body.
TauRx last month reported the encouraging results of research which showed HMTM slowed the progression of Alzheimer’s disease over a period of at least 18 months. The study compared results from HMTM’s recent Phase 3 trial with placebo data from closely matched subjects available from the Critical Path in AD (CPAD) Institute database, which contains information from nearly 10,000 patients that have taken part in 36 global trials.