FELDAN THERAPEUTICS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF DR. KENNETH KOBAYASHI AS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

Quebec City, Canada, August 28, 2023 — Feldan Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in the development of treatments based on intracellular delivery of therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Dr. Kenneth Kobayashi, MD FRCPC FAAD, as the company’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Kobayashi brings to Feldan extensive leadership experience in clinical development, regulatory affairs and dermatology. As CMO, Dr. Kobayashi will set the direction for Feldan’s clinical and regulatory operations, drive strategic growth and play a key role in advancing Feldan’s lead compound to clinical phases. 

“We are really excited to welcome Dr. Kobayashi and his extensive medical and clinical development capabilities to our team as we get closer to Feldan’s first clinical trial,” said François-Thomas Michaud, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Feldan. “Dr. Kobayashi’s long track record in dermatology and in the pharmaceutical industry will be instrumental in the advancement of FLD-103 through clinical phases, and we are looking forward to his leadership in shaping the development of other novel drug products and bringing positive outcomes for patients.”

“These are very exhilarating times at Feldan Therapeutics, with FLD-103 poised to move into the clinic in Q2  of 2024,” said Dr. Kobayashi. “I am delighted to join the dedicated and enthusiastic Feldan team and to be invited to lead the clinical development of this innovative compound and delivery system that will help to improve the lives of our patients by reshaping the management of basal cell carcinoma and other diseases moving forward.”

Dr. Kobayashi is a dermatologist with over 20 years’ experience as a practicing clinician and a global executive and consultant in the pharmaceutical industry. He is dedicated to providing outstanding guidance in bringing novel medicines through all phases of clinical development. His previous functions include senior roles in both large pharmaceutical and emerging biotech companies, as well as in a medical and surgical dermatology practice. He has been responsible for the development of multiple drug candidates and for the implementation of strategic partnerships with key opinion leaders and industry collaborators to facilitate the successful execution of clinical trials. He most recently served as Chief Medical Officer at ASLAN Pharmaceuticals, where he was responsible for the global clinical development of the company’s pipeline, including ASLAN004, a monoclonal antibody that targets the IL-13R-1 receptor subunit, currently in early-phase development for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. He previously served as Senior Medical Director at Dermira, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Co., as well as Global Program Medical Director at Novartis. He has also held senior and global leadership positions at LEO Pharma. In these roles, he was responsible for the clinical development of drug compounds such as lebrikizumab, anti-IL-17A and anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies, leading several clinical-phase registration studies in the Immunology, Hepatology and Dermatology Global Development Unit at Novartis. Dr. Kobayashi also held an Associate Professor appointment and was Chief and Chair of the Division of Dermatology at The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa. He is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa.

About Feldan:
Located in Quebec City, Canada, Feldan is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of treatments based on the intracellular delivery of therapeutics. Feldan has designed the Feldan Shuttle, a proprietary, peptide-based technology that enables safe and efficient delivery of various compounds inside cells. This technology unlocks the development of a new generation of therapies by giving access to intracellular targets beyond the reach of existing drugs. Feldan’s pipeline focuses on diseases affecting skin and lungs.

Feldan’s focus is on the completion of clinical phases I/II of intralesional FLD-103 to treat basal cell carcinomas (BCC). BCC, the most common skin cancer and most frequent form of all cancers, affects 3.6 million people in the US and Canada each year and results in the development of tumors mainly in sun-exposed skin areas such as the face, neck and scalp. Patients affected by BCC mostly rely on surgery for removal of these tumors, an effective yet invasive and disfiguring procedure leaving patients to deal with scarring and, in some instances, a long recovery time. The company is also working on advancing its pulmonary delivery program towards preclinical development and further leveraging its intracellular delivery technology to offer life-changing therapeutics to patients.

For more information:     www.feldan.com