About HemaQuest
Overview
HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals was founded in October 2007 to develop small molecule therapeutics based on its short chain fatty acid derivative (SCFAD) technologies to treat anemias and other blood disorders. The Company's initial focus is on the two most common inherited blood disorders, thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. The Company is also developing SCFADs to treat other hematological disorders such as other kinds of anemia and neutropenia. HemaQuest received $20 million in a Series A financing from DeNovo Ventures, a Palo Alto, CA life sciences investment partnership; Forward Ventures, a life sciences venture capital firm in La Jolla, CA; and Lilly Ventures of Indianapolis, IN, the venture capital arm of Eli Lilly and Company.
The HemaQuest team includes several pioneers in the field of hematology. Co-founder, Dr. George Stamatayannoupolous, has played a major role in elucidating the molecular mechanisms that underlie the switch that occurs in infancy from the fetal form to the adult form of hemoglobin. Co-founder Dr. Susan Perrine discovered that certain short fatty acids could be used to induce the re-expression of fetal globin that could replace the absent or mutated globin in beta thalassemia and sickle cell disease, respectively. Although demonstrating therapeutic effects, these short fatty acids, including butyrate and related compounds, had to be administered intravenously and inhibited red blood cell production, limiting their administration and effectiveness in treating hemoglobinopathies and other anemias. Dr. Perrine and her colleagues discovered certain derivatives of short fatty acids (SCFADs) known as HemokinesTM that could be administered orally and combined induction of fetal globin with stimulation of red blood cell production. These two complementary activities produced potent therapeutic effects in pre-clinical studies carried out in the laboratory, rodents and primates. HemaQuest has obtained an exclusive worldwide license for a series of patents and patent applications from Boston University for these technologies that give it a strong proprietary position.
HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals is led by Ronald Berenson, MD, President and CEO, who founded and led two NASDAQ-listed companies that developed therapeutics in hematology and oncology. Susan Perrine, MD, the Company's Chief Scientific Officer and VP, Clinical Affairs, is the inventor of HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals' technologies. The Company's Chief Operating Officer, George Hillman, has over 15 years of experience in the life sciences industry and has been involved in the early stages of financing and operating several successful life sciences companies. William Welch, Ph.D., VP, Development, has over 20 years of experience in developing therapeutics in hematology, oncology and other therapeutic areas. In addition, HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals' founders include: Douglas Faller, Ph.D., M.D., Director of Boston University Cancer Center; Robert Williams, Ph. D. University Professor of Chemistry, Colorado State University and Thalia Papayannopoulou, M.D., Professor of Hematology, University of Washington. In addition to Drs. Berenson and Stamatayannoupolous, our Board of Directors includes Fred Dotzler (DeNovo Ventures), Bryan Dunnivant (Lilly Ventures) and Ivor Royston, M.D. (Forward Ventures).
HemaQuest Contact Information
101 Federal Street Suite 1900
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 478-4810
Fax: (617) 478-4811
For additional media or investor relations information, please contact: ir@hemaquest.com.
For additional human resources information, or to submit a resume, please contact: hr@hemaquest.com.
For additional business development information, please contact: bd@hemaquest.com.
For general information, please contact: info@hemaquest.com.