BRANFORD, Conn., July 11,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Azitra, Inc. (NYSE American:
AZTR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on
developing innovative therapies for precision dermatology, today
announced the appointment of Travis
Whitfill as Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Whitfill is the
cofounder of Azitra and joins from Bios Partners, a venture capital
firm focused on investing in early-stage biopharmaceutical
companies.
"We are delighted to welcome Travis back to Azitra full time,
after his tenure of nearly ten years in biotech venture capital,"
said Francisco Salva, President and
CEO of Azitra. "Travis brings a wealth of knowledge in biotech,
synthetic biology, and drug development. He will be a critical
addition to our leadership team as we begin dosing patients in
Netherton syndrome with ATR-12 this year."
Mr. Whitfill is a biotech leader and entrepreneur. He cofounded
Azitra in 2014 and has served on the company's board of directors
since 2014. Previously, he was a partner at Bios Partners, a
biotechnology-focused venture capital firm, for nine years. He has
served on the boards of IN8bio Inc., SIRPant Immunotherapeutics,
Immusoft Corporation, and 410 Medical. Mr. Whitfill is also an
Associate Professor Adjunct in the Departments of Pediatrics and
Emergency Medicine at Yale University
and has been on the faculty at Yale for
seven years. He has led numerous grant-funded projects, holds a
dozen patents, and has co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed
publications. Mr. Whitfill received an MPH from Yale University and an MPhil from University
College London.
"Azitra is developing novel therapies for precision dermatology
and is focused on high unmet needs. The company is at an exciting
juncture as it begins clinical trials in Netherton syndrome," said
Mr. Whitfill. "I am honored to join Azitra full time and to work
closely with the team to bring much-needed therapies to patients
suffering from severe skin diseases."
About Azitra, Inc.
Azitra, Inc. is an early-stage clinical biopharmaceutical
company focused on developing innovative therapies for precision
dermatology using engineered proteins and topical live
biotherapeutic products. The Company has built a proprietary
platform that includes a microbial library comprised of
approximately 1,500 unique bacterial strains that can be screened
for unique therapeutic characteristics. The platform is augmented
by an artificial intelligence and machine learning technology that
analyzes, predicts and helps screen the Company's library of
strains for drug like molecules. The Company's initial focus is on
the development of genetically engineered strains of Staphylococcus
epidermidis, or S. epidermidis, which the Company considers to be
an optimal therapeutic candidate species for engineering of
dermatologic therapies. For more information, please visit
https://azitrainc.com/.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" that
are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements,
other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press
release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements
contained in this press release may be identified by the use of
words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could,"
"estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan,"
"potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should,"
"will" "would," or the negative of these words or other similar
expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain
these words. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's
current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties,
risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further,
certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to
future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other
risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section
titled "Risk Factors" in the final IPO prospectus dated
June 15, 2023 filed with the
SEC on June 21, 2023. Forward-looking
statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date,
and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information
except as required under applicable law.
CONTACT
Norman
Staskey
Acting Chief Financial Officer
staskey@azitrainc.com
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SOURCE Azitra, Inc.