PTC Therapeutics, Inc. Stuart Peltz, Ph.D., founding Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PTC Therapeutics announced that he is stepping down after 25 years. Dr. Peltz has led PTC Therapeutics as its CEO since its founding in 1998 and pioneered the field of RNA-directed drug development. Under his leadership, PTC has grown from a research organization with expertise in the control of RNA processes to a publicly traded, integrated, global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of neurological and neuromuscular disorders, metabolic disorders, and cancer.
"I have been involved with PTC almost since its inception. What Stuart and the team have achieved in 25 years is extraordinary," said Michael Schmertzler, Chairman of the Board of Directors. "The Board and I are confident in the team Stuart has built and their ability to continue to deliver transformative treatments to those living with rare diseases. We wish Stuart all the best in his future endeavors and look forward to his continuing contributions to the company."
Matthew Klein, M.D., M.S., F.A.C.S., current Chief Operating Officer, has been named the company's CEO and will join the Board of Directors. The transition is effective immediately. Dr. Peltz will serve as a Senior Consultant to the Company and join its Scientific Advisory Board following his retirement.
Prior to joining PTC in 2019, Dr. Klein was CEO and Chief Medical Officer at BioElectron Technology Corporation, a biotechnology company focused on the development of redox-active small molecules for mitochondrial disease and related disorders of oxidative stress. PTC acquired BioElectron's assets in 2019.
As CEO and CMO of BioElectron, Dr. Klein led the restructuring of the company with successful implementation of new strategic and operational plans and led the development of two novel small molecules targeting CNS diseases from discovery to early and late clinical development stages. In addition, he oversaw the formation of an oncology platform that yielded several novel preclinical compounds with novel approaches to targeting cancer.
Dr. Klein joined PTC as Global Head of Gene & Mitochondrial Therapies and then assumed the role of Chief Development Officer prior to promotion to COO in January 2022. At PTC, he has overseen the Company's broad development pipeline now with five ongoing registration-directed clinical trials and headed the efforts in achieving EMA approval for Upstaza, the first ever gene therapy directly administered to the brain.
Dr. Klein holds a Bachelor of Arts in history, and graduated summa cum laude and phi beta kappa from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his Doctor of Medicine degree with honors from Yale University. In addition, Dr. Klein holds a Masters of Epidemiology degree from the University of Washington. Prior to leading BioElectron, he was the Auth-Washington Research Foundation Endowed Chair for Restorative Burn Surgery at the University of Washington. He has authored or co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has served on the Research Advisory Board of the Shriners Hospitals for Children for over 15 years.
"The PTC team and patients and families around the world have benefited tremendously from Stu's scientific expertise and leadership. I am grateful to the Board for its confidence in appointing me as his successor," said Dr. Klein. "I am extremely proud to have the opportunity to lead PTC's experienced and dedicated team into its next quarter century as we advance our pioneering science to develop valuable and transformative therapies for children and adults with unmet medical needs. We will enrich PTC's unwavering commitments to patients and to prudent enterprise growth based on our robust product portfolio, global commercial infrastructure, and unique scientific and drug development strengths."
Today's Conference Call and Webcast information:
To access the call by phone, please click here to register and you will be provided with dial-in details. To avoid delays, we recommend participants dial in to the conference call 15 minutes prior to the start of the call. The webcast conference call can be accessed on the Investor section of the PTC website at https://ir.ptcbio.com/events-presentations. A replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after completion of the call and will be archived on the company's website for 30 days following the call.
Source: PTC Therapeutics, Inc.
Stuart Peltz, Rare Disease Pioneer, Retire,Chief Executive Officer,PTC Therapeutics
PTC Therapeutics, Inc. Stuart Peltz, Ph.D., founding Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PTC Therapeutics announced that he is stepping down after 25 years. Dr. Peltz has led PTC Therapeutics as its CEO since its founding in 1998 and pioneered the field of R
