A new biotech company in San Francisco will go after a population of
patients far from the Bay Area — all the way in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Announcing its formation Wednesday, Serenus Biotherapeutics’
executives said they want to bring needed therapies to Africa: drugs
that are close to commercialization, as well as treatments that are made
by other companies and already on the market in the United States,
Europe and Japan.
Why Africa? The company cited Africa’s projected rise over the next
decade in chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer,
respiratory diseases and diabetes, and its subsequent need for
medications. Experts attribute those trends to the continent’s growing
middle class, economic growth and urbanization.
Leading the company is Dr. Menghis Bairu.
He was the former executive
vice president, chief medical officer and head of global development
of Elan Corporation, an Irish drug company that was acquired by Perrigo
Company late last year.
“The Sub-Saharan African region is one of the most dynamic areas of
economic growth today and one where the availability of innovative drugs
lags demand,” Bairu said in a statement. “Serenus represents the
efforts of a passionate core group of individuals with global
biopharmaceutical experience stepping to the forefront of an African
health care renaissance.”
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