Opko initiates Rayaldee Trial

Joel Melnick 305-575-4228 JMelnick@opko.com

From what I can tell, a Miami area code.

I wonder if Lawrence was fired for not getting this study done.  Or did he quit?  Who knows...Maybe he didn't like living in Toronto reporting to Miami.  Seems he found a company based in Toronto.

At least this Dr. Melnick seems like a known quantity to Opko and Dr. Bishop.  Worked for Abbott, so I presume he knows what he is doing.  Why wasn't he involved from the get-go on such a prolific study involving the Pandemic of the century?  I know, the century is 21 years young...but still.  He was at Cytochroma who DEVELOPED Rayaldee with Dr. Bishop....seems like an obvious choice.  Unless he was busy with that 44 patient 2A cohort for CKD 5 that took 3 years...


MARKHAM, ON, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ - Cytochroma Inc. announced today that Joel Z. Melnick, MD has joined Cytochroma's management team as Vice President, Clinical & Regulatory Affairs. Dr. Melnick will be responsible for managing the clinical development of Cytochroma's new Vitamin D therapies and for obtaining marketing approvals from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Canada's Therapeutic Products Directorate (TPD).



Dr. Melnick was previously Senior Medical Director in the Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development Group at Abbott Laboratories (North Chicago, IL). There, he managed clinical trials, regulatory submissions, marketing approvals and post-launch support for Zemplar(R) (paricalcitol) Capsules and Injection, currently one of the world's leading Vitamin D hormone replacement therapies for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) in chronic kidney disease (CKD).



"We are delighted to announce the hiring of Dr. Melnick," said Charles W. Bishop, PhD, President and CEO. "He will greatly boost our ability to rapidly develop and launch products targeting CKD patients. We expect, through Dr. Melnick's leadership and proven expertise, to submit New Drug Applications to the FDA for three new Vitamin D products within the next two years."



Dr. Melnick completed his medical degree, internship, and residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at Creighton University, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in pediatric and adult nephrology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Melnick subsequently served as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University, where he conducted research in metabolism and cardio-renal disease.



"Cytochroma has built a deep product pipeline targeting CKD, interactively working with the many leading experts on Vitamin D therapeutics and nephrology who comprise its Scientific Advisory Board. I look forward to working with such prominent and talented key opinion leaders," stated Dr. Melnick.



"With the addition of Dr. Melnick, Cytochroma has significantly increased the breadth and depth of its in-house Vitamin D product development expertise." stated Alan J. Lewis, PhD, Chairman of the Board. "Cytochroma now counts among the senior management team the key individuals responsible for developing and commercializing Hectorol(R) and Zemplar(R), two products which dominate the US$600+ million market for Vitamin D hormone replacement therapies in North America."