Spyryx Biosciences, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for respiratory diseases, in particular cystic fibrosis, has created a new role of Chief Medical Officer as it expands its executive team.
The position has been taken by Dr Alistair Wheeler, who takes responsibility for clinical and medical operations and associated regulatory strategies for the company.
The firm has an ongoing Phase 1 safety study for SPX-101, a SPLUNC1-derived peptide, which has the potential to provide improvement in lung function and quality of life for cystic fibrosis patients.
Dr Wheeler has decades of drug development experience, including key roles in the filing of nine successful marketing applications with regulatory agencies worldwide.
He also has substantial medical and regulatory affairs expertise and has participated in numerous business development initiatives, all with a particular focus on respiratory products and associated indications.
Dr Wheeler joins Spyryx from Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, where he was Global Head of Clinical Development, respiratory medicine and biotherapeutics, responsible for all clinical development activities and supporting a portfolio of approved products across multiple therapeutic areas.
Prior to Sunovion, he was Senior Director, Clinical Research at Cubist Pharmaceuticals, leading the clinical research function for development programmes in infectious disease and cardiovascular surgery, in addition to ongoing clinical expansion of a marketed product and business development activities.
Dr Wheeler's earlier clinical development experience included positions in both the US and Europe as Vice President, Medical Affairs at Avant Immunotherapeutics; senior director roles in clinical development and clinical operations for Astra USA; Worldwide Director, Respiratory Medicine at Hoffmann-La Roche, and clinical research physician (respiratory) for Glaxo Group Research.
