Agile Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ:AGRX), which is preparing to commercialize its Twirla patch contraceptive, has appointed Dr Paul Korner as its chief medical officer.
Dr Korner is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist with more than 20 years of pharmaceutical and biotech industry experience, including significant experience within women’s healthcare.
He will be responsible for supporting the commercial launch of Twirla, advancing the company’s internal pipeline and evaluating external growth opportunities. He will report to CEO Al Altomari.
READ: Agile Therapeutics ends its second quarter with over $87 million in cash ahead of Twirla contraceptive patch launch
"We are excited to welcome Dr Korner to Agile as we continue to strengthen and expand our senior leadership team," Altomari said in a statement Monday.
"Dr Korner’s private practice work and his deep pharmaceutical experience, particularly in leading multiple women’s health product approvals and launches, makes him a natural fit as we continue to advance Twirla towards commercial launch and broaden our women’s health portfolio for areas of unmet need."
Dr Korner has served in various leadership positions at several global companies focused on female reproductive health, including Solvay Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Research, Bayer, and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. He has led more than 50 clinical trials that include multiple engagements with the US Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency in Japan, and Health Canada.
Most recently, Dr Korner brought his clinical and development acumen to the gene therapy space as a senior vice president of Clinical Development & Medical Affairs at Axovant Gene Therapies Ltd.
"Agile is at the forefront of expanding healthcare options for women, and I am thrilled to join the Company at this important time,” Dr Korner said. “I look forward to supporting Agile’s continued product development and the launch of Twirla, an innovative and important new contraceptive option for women.”
In February, the FDA approved Twirla, a low-dose prescription contraceptive delivered through the skin via the company’s proprietary patch technology.
The company plans to begin hiring and training an initial sales team, which it estimates to be in the range of 70 to 100 people. It intends to begin to ship product to wholesalers in the fourth quarter of 2020.
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