Prexa Pharmaceuticals hired two new candidates for its lead product candidate PRX-12251.

Scott Reines, PhD, will serve as chief medical officer and Evelyn Graham will serve as chief operating officer. Prexa is developing oral small molecule monoamine reuptake inhibitors that act most potently at the dopamine transporter. By safely enhancing dopamine activity—and to a lesser extent norepinepherine activity—Prexa intends to improve upon the safety and efficacy of current treatments for ADHD, depression, and Parkinson’s disease.

“Scott’s prior accomplishments bringing many CNS products through the clinic, and Ev’s ability to adeptly manage the operations of both large and small companies, will provide the expertise we need to prepare our first product candidate for IND-enabling studies,” said Charles Cohen, PhD, chairman and chief executive officer of Prexa. Reines has more than 30 years of broad drug development experience. Graham has demonstrated scientific, operational, and leadership skills in public and private pharmaceutical, contract research, and biotechnology firms for more than 25 years.

Release Date: May 2, 2011
Source: Prexa PharmaceuticalsPrexa