Kinex Pharmaceuticals Inc. Announces Key Additions to Clinical Leadership Team in Newly Formed Clinical Development Office in Cranford, New Jersey

BUFFALO, N.Y., May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Kinex Pharmaceuticals announces the addition of two key executives to its clinical leadership team reporting to Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Rudolf Kwan.  Douglas Kramer MD joins Kinex as Vice President of Clinical and Regulatory Affairs and Jane Devane has joined Kinex as Director of Clinical Operations.   

Dr. Kramer adds significant regulatory and clinical risk management experience and was previously a Medical Officer for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  His experience also includes Director for CNS Clinical Research at Schering-Plough where, amongst other accomplishments, he successfully led the global approval for IV Temodar, the current standard of treatment for newly diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme.  Dr. Kramer has also served in a variety of other clinical and regulatory roles over the course of his career and was most recently an advisor to Kinex and other drug development companies.  Dr. Kramer obtained his MD from Columbia University.

Ms. Jane Devane, CCRN and BA, joins Kinex as Clinical Operation Director.  Ms. Devane also has substantial clinical research experience where she spent 15 years with Schering-Plough and subsequently Merck where she worked on numerous clinical drug development projects including the global registration effort of IV Temodar.  Ms. Devane obtained her nursing diploma at Queens Hospital, New York and BA at Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey. 

Rudolf Kwan MD, Kinex's Chief Medical Officer, comments "I have had the privilege of professionally working alongside both Dr. Kramer and Ms. Devane at Schering-Plough.  Dr. Kramer comes to Kinex with 7 years experience at the US FDA reviewing INDs and NDAs, and 14 years in clinical development in the industry.  Ms. Devane comes with over 20 years experience in managing global clinical studies.  I am excited to have Dr. Kramer and Ms. Devane join our clinical development team.  Kinex has more than 8 clinical studies either underway or in the planning phases for four clinical drug candidates, all focusing on oral oncology drugs.  We will be executing a global drug development strategy alongside our partners.  Dr. Kramer's and Ms. Devane's combined experiences will add tremendous expertise to our effort in advancing our strong pipeline."

Dr. Kramer adds "I am excited to join Kinex to participate in the global clinical development of its unique pipeline of oral oncology drug candidates.  Kinex has assembled a committed high quality team and I look forward to helping move Kinex's drugs forward in the clinic."

Flint Besecker, Kinex's Chief Business Officer and Board Director, stated "under Dr. Kwan's leadership, we continue to build an outstanding clinical team based in our New Jersey office.  There is tremendous confidence and trust amongst this team as they have worked with each other previously developing and commercializing new drugs successfully.  The build-out of our clinical team is a next logical step for Kinex as we recently completed a very well received capital raise and now are launching a number of clinical studies on a global basis.  We would like to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Kramer and Ms. Devane."

Website: www.kinexpharma.com  

SOURCE Kinex Pharmaceuticals