FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ardelyx, Inc. (NASDAQ: ARDX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on gastrointestinal and cardio-renal diseases, today announced that Paul Korner, MD, MBA, joined the Company in a newly created position as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Korner brings extensive medical affairs and clinical development experience to Ardelyx, having contributed to the FDA approvals of numerous drugs and devices that have generated several billion dollars in global sales. His appointment is effective immediately.
"We are excited to have Paul join Ardelyx at a time when the Company is advancing several mid- to late-stage clinical programs for IBS-C, hyperphosphatemia and hyperkalemia and are building a team as we prepare for commercialization," said Mike Raab, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ardelyx. "Paul is a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with an extensive clinical development and medical affairs background, who has participated in many programs leading to product approvals from the FDA and other global regulatory agencies. We are eager to have him join the team at this juncture in the Company's evolution to help Ardelyx succeed in its goal of becoming a fully integrated, leading
gastroenterology and cardio-renal company."
Dr. Korner joins Ardelyx with 17-years of pharmaceutical industry experience, having served in various leadership positions of increased responsibility with several global companies. Over the past seven years, he served as President, Ferring International Pharmascience Center U.S. Inc. (FIPCUS) & Senior Vice President, U.S. Development for Ferring Pharmaceuticals where he built and led Ferring's U.S. clinical development subsidiary responsible for gastroenterology, reproductive health, orthopedics and urology therapeutic areas and was a member of senior global R & D management. Dr. Korner joined Ferring in 2008 as Vice President, Medical Affairs, responsible for pharmacovigilance, medical information and medical
staff supporting Ferring's marketed products.
Prior to joining Ferring, Dr. Korner was Vice President of Medical Affairs, Female Health at Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, where his group supported the U.S. business unit and Phase 2 to Phase 4 development projects. He also served as Senior Director of Clinical Research and Development, Women's Health and Musculoskeletal Bone Repair for Wyeth Research and as Director, Medical Affairs - GI and Women's Health for Solvay Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Korner is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist. He received his MD from Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine in Illinois. He also holds an MBA from the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.
"I am thrilled to join Ardelyx at such a transformational stage of the company, and I look forward to helping advance its novel GI and cardio-renal therapies that have the potential to address high unmet medical needs and improve patient lives," stated Dr. Korner.
About Ardelyx, Inc.
Ardelyx is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative, minimally-systemic, small molecule therapeutics that work exclusively in the gastrointestinal tract to treat gastrointestinal and cardio-renal diseases. Ardelyx has developed a proprietary drug discovery and design platform enabling it, in a rapid and cost-efficient manner, to discover and design novel drug candidates. Utilizing this platform, Ardelyx has discovered and designed tenapanor, which it is evaluating for the treatment of constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C) and for the control of hyperphosphatemia in CKD patients on dialysis. In addition to tenapanor, Ardelyx is
developing RDX022, a non-absorbed polymer for the treatment of hyperkalemia, or high potassium, in kidney and heart disease patients. Ardelyx is also advancing several research programs focused in gastrointestinal and cardio-renal diseases. Ardelyx is located in Fremont, California. For more information, please visit Ardelyx's website at www.ardelyx.com.
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