Enteris BioPharma has appointed Joel Tune as chief executive officer. In addition, Paul Shields is promoted to chief operating officer. Mr. Tune and Dr. Shields, along with Brian Zietsman, president and chief financial officer, will be responsible for leading Enteris BioPharma as the company pursues strategic alternatives to capitalize on multiple growth opportunities involving its proprietary oral delivery technology, highly-differentiated product pipeline, and cGMP compliant recombinant peptide and protein manufacturing facility.

Utilizing its proprietary and patented oral delivery capabilities, Enteris BioPharma has an active internal product pipeline of reformulations, which includes Ovarest, a Phase 2a-ready oral peptide for endometriosis, as well as an oral aminoglycoside for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI), for which the company anticipates filing an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) in the first half of 2016. External market analysis demonstrates projected annual US revenue potential for these two products in excess of $1 Billion in the aggregate.

Since its founding in 2013, Enteris BioPharma has advanced multiple internal and external programs leveraging its oral delivery technology. The technology has been developed and proven effective over the last decade to enable the safe delivery of peptide-based therapeutics and other molecules with low oral bioavailability. Currently, Enteris BioPharma’s oral peptide delivery technology is the subject of several active external development programs, the most advanced of which include Tarsa Therapeutics’ TBRIA (an oral calcitonin, NDA filed in October 2015) and an oral formulation of Cara Therapeutics’ CR845 (a potent peripheral kappa opioid receptor agonist currently entering a Phase II trial for chronic pain).

In addition to its oral delivery technology and drug development programs, Enteris BioPharma offers contract manufacturing of recombinant peptide and protein products via its recently enhanced 32,000 square foot, FDA inspected and cGMP compliant facility.

“Enteris BioPharma is poised to return significant value in 2016 and beyond as the efforts of all of our employees, under the leadership of Brian and Paul, have the company well positioned with multiple growth opportunities,” said Mr. Tune. “As chief executive officer, my goal is to work internally and externally to accelerate this growth trajectory and capitalize on our industry-leading suite of technologies. I congratulate Paul on his promotion to chief operating officer and look forward to working with him and Brian to build on the successes that Enteris BioPharma has achieved since its founding.”

Mr. Tune has more than 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and medical device arena. Most recently, he has been advising early stage and small pharmaceutical, biotech, contract services and medical device companies on a variety of matters including strategy, operations and business development. Mr. Tune has also served as executive chairman for Enteris BioPharma since April 2014.