After recently raising $175 million for continued development of AP01 inhaled pirfenidone and AP02 inhaled nintedanib, Avalyn Pharma has announced four new executive hires. The new appointments include former Boehringer Ingelheim interstitial lung disease (ILD) expert Craig Conoscenti as Senior VP, clinical development; Jim Bishop as Senior VP, Business Operations; Allison Trucillo as VP, Medical Affairs; and Rebecca Boone as VP, Clinical Operations. Avalyn previously announced the appointments of Howard Lazarus as Chief Medical Officer and Melissa Rhodes as Chief Operating Officer within the past few months.
Conoscenti spent more than 20 years in various roles related to ILD research at Boehringer Ingelheim and most recently served as Executive Director/Therapeutic Area Head Respiratory ILD Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at BI. Bishop was most recently Senior VP, Business Operations at Enzyvant; Trucillo was most recently Vice President of Medical Affairs at Renalytix and previously worked on a medical science liaison team at Insmed; Boone previously held executive positions at AskBio, Theravance Biopharma, and Dance Biopharm (Aerami).
Avalyn CEO Lyn Baranowski commented, “We are thrilled to expand our leadership team with these key appointments as we continue to strategically scale our organization and prepare for advanced clinical development of our lead programs, AP01 and AP02, for pulmonary fibrosis. Craig adds to Avalyn’s clinical development capabilities with a strong track record in the development and launch of multiple products and indications in the respiratory and ILD space, as we work to bring forward new treatments for life-threatening pulmonary diseases.
Baranowski added, “We are also delighted to welcome Jim, Allison and Rebecca to Avalyn, who each bring with them crucial expertise in respiratory drug development to steer our business operations, medical affairs and clinical operations functions as we prepare for key clinical and business milestones this year and beyond.”
Conoscenti said, “I felt compelled to join the Avalyn team to develop new and important treatments on behalf of people living with pulmonary fibrosis, many of whom I have had the honor of treating in clinical practice or serving throughout my time working in clinical development in rare ILDs. Avalyn’s approach to delivering proven treatments directly to the lungs has shown clinical evidence of efficacy and improved tolerability, and I am dedicated to moving these programs forward with the rest of the experienced team.”
Read the Avalyn Pharma press release.
