#USA #NS Pharma #VILTEPSO #Donald Foy #Paramus

NS Pharma's New Commercial Leadership

On November 26, 2024, NS Pharma, Inc., a subsidiary of Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd., revealed a significant shift in its Commercial division's leadership, reinforcing its commitment to innovation in the therapeutic realm for rare diseases. The company appointed Donald Foy as Vice President of Commercial, effective September 9, 2024. Foy, who previously held the position of National Sales Director, is set to lead critical departments including sales, marketing, market access, operations, and patient services.

Jennifer Tamberino, who served as the Regional Business Director for the East and National Sales, will take over Foy's former position as National Sales Director. This strategic change in leadership is aimed at enhancing NS Pharma's operational capacity and improving the company's market position in the rare disease treatment sector.

Yukiteru Sugiyama, Ph.D., President of NS Pharma, expressed enthusiasm regarding these appointments, highlighting the potential for both Foy and Tamberino to drive growth in the U.S. Rare Disease space. Sugiyama noted, "With Don and Jennifer at the helm, we are well-positioned to execute our plans for growth in the rare disease space in the United States. Our new leadership structure is designed to foster industry collaboration and company innovation from the top down."

Foy succeeds Gardner Gendron, the previous executive, who played a pivotal role over the last five years, including overseeing the launch and commercialization of VILTEPSO, an important treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne), a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by muscle degeneration.

Foy boasts an extensive career of over 17 years in various leadership roles within the pharmaceutical industry, backed by more than 24 years of comprehensive experience in sales and cross-functional operations. Tamberino, armed with a solid four-year record at NS Pharma, has proven her mettle in both leadership and business operations.

Currently, NS Pharma's primary commercial product is VILTEPSO, with additional candidates in its pipeline targeting conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), a type of vasculitis. The company also plans to market deramiocel (CAP-1002), under development by Capricor Therapeutics for treating Duchenne cardiomyopathy.

VILTEPSO, an exon-skipping therapy approved in the U.S. in August 2020, received accolades including Priority Review and Rare Pediatric Disease designations. It aims at patients with confirmed mutations of the Duchenne gene suitable for exon 53 skipping. Its effectiveness hinges upon increasing dystrophin production in skeletal muscle, with continued approval contingent on further clinical validation.

However, like many innovative therapies, VILTEPSO carries certain risks. Although kidney toxicity was not observed in clinical studies, it has been noted in animal models. Therefore, vigilance in monitoring renal function among users is crucial.

The most common adverse reactions associated with VILTEPSO include upper respiratory tract infections, injection site reactions, cough, and pyrexia. NS Pharma encourages patients and healthcare professionals to remain informed regarding these reactions and to report any adverse occurrences.

NS Pharma's commitment to addressing rare diseases is underscored by this leadership transition, positioning itself for further advancements in treatment options and patient outcomes. The organization is dedicated to leveraging its expertise and experience to usher in a new era of therapeutic innovations that address significant unmet needs in rare diseases.

For more information regarding VILTEPSO and other pharmaceutical advancements from NS Pharma, check their official communications.