Pleco Therapeutics BV, a specialty biopharmaceutical company developing novel treatments designed to detoxify the cancer promoting cellular micro-environment, has expanded with the incorporation if a U.S. subsidiary, Pleco Therapeutics USA, Inc., alongside the appointment of Michael Stalhamer as its President. Mr Stalhamer also serves on the global leadership team as Vice President Product Development and Regulatory Affairs.
 
Incorporated in Delaware, Pleco Therapeutics USA, Inc., will operate from New Jersey. The U.S. subsidiary will support the advancement of its Plecoid product, PTX-061 and commercialization, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of chemotherapy in patients with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML).
 
Mr. Stalhamer joins the company from STI Pharma where he served as VP Regulatory Affairs & Product Development for the past 13 years. He brings more than 25 years of experience in pharmaceutical /biotechnology and medical device research, operations, engineering, facility and equipment design, regulatory affairs, quality assurance and marketing gained in the U.S., India and Europe. Prior to STI Pharma, his experience included roles at Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Artes Medical, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis. During that time, he managed facility upgrades, progressing products from Phase II/III through to commercialization of sterile and non-sterile pharmaceutical products as well as medical devices. 
 
Ivo Timmermans, Chief Executive Officer of Pleco Therapeutics BV, said, “We are delighted to welcome Michael to head up our new US operations. He will be a valuable addition to our leadership team as he has exactly the experience we need to manage the development, registration and commercialization of our first Plecoid product. The USA is a critical market and getting our products to patients will deliver on our goal of improving the effectiveness of existing chemotherapy and changing the outcome for patients with relapsed cancers.”
 
Plecoid agents are patented, innovative treatments that include chelating agents with specific characteristics, that change the balance of toxic metals in the cell as a novel approach to treating cancer.