ProKidney Corp (PROK) Announces Leadership Changes

ProKidney Corp. (Nasdaq: PROK) (“ProKidney” or the “Company”), a leading late clinical-stage cellular therapeutics company focused on chronic kidney disease (CKD), today announced two recent strategic appointments enhancing the leadership team’s expertise in clinical operations and technical operations, positioning the Company for completion of its Phase 3 program and future commercialization. Dr. Ulrich Ernst, PhD joins the Company today as Executive Vice President of Technical Operations, and Mr. Lucio Tozzi was appointed Senior Vice President of Global Clinical Operations on January 22, 2024. Both Dr. Ernst and Mr. Tozzi and will be joining the ProKidney Executive Leadership Team.

Dr. Ernst has over 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry with a focus on process development, manufacturing and facility oversight, and supply chain operations in the cell space. Prior to ProKidney, he led process development, and manufacturing of complex therapeutics, including autologous cell therapies and antibody-drug conjugates. Dr. Ernst was Senior Vice President of Technical Operations at Iovance Biotherapeutics, Chief Operating Officer at Amunix Operating Inc., and Senior Vice President of Manufacturing Operations at Cytovance Biologics. Dr. Ernst earned his PhD in chemical engineering at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.

“Dr. Ernst’s expertise in bringing complex process operations through to commercialization and his track record of gaining manufacturing facility approvals and new market authorizations will be invaluable as we progress our Phase 3 program and prepare for BLA submission,” said Dr. Bruce Culleton, Chief Executive Officer of ProKidney.

Mr. Tozzi also brings over 30 years of experience in international drug development and execution of clinical trials across multiple therapeutic categories. He oversaw design and implementation of over 75 Phase 1-4 clinical studies in more than 65 countries in a variety of clinical indications, including kidney disease. Prior to ProKidney, Mr. Tozzi was Senior Vice President and Head of Clinical Operations at Summit Therapeutics and Rain Oncology, and, prior to that, Vice President of Clinical Operations at Protagonist Therapeutics.

Dr. Culleton continued, “Mr. Tozzi’s extensive background in clinical trial execution has been and will continue to be integral in the coming months for the enrollment of patients in PROACT 1 and PROACT 2. I am pleased to have these seasoned industry veterans join our Executive Leadership Team. They bring critically important experience that strengthens our ability to execute on our late-stage clinical program and prepare the organization for future commercialization of rilparencel.”

You May Also Be Interested In

• Holcim to acquire Fermacell from James Hardie for EUR 840M
• T. Rowe Price to acquire F/m Investments in fixed income push
• ICE raises $3.71 billion in senior notes to fund MarketAxess deal