Novartis executive named Viamet’s first chief medical officer

Viamet Pharmaceuticals has hired a Novartis (NYSE:NVS) executive to become the company’s first chief medical officer.

Dr. Marc Rudoltz will oversee development of Durham, North Carolina-based Viamet’s oncology and infectious disease therapies.

“We are excited to have Dr. Rudoltz join the Viamet team,” Viamet CEO Robert Schotzinger said in a statement. “He will play a critical role as we transition from a discovery-stage company to a product-focused company.”

In September, Viamet started phase 1 clinical trials for VT-1161 to study the compound for the treatment of a range of fungal infections that include onychomycosis, a fungal nail infection. Another compound, VT-464 is being developed as a treatment for castration-refractory prostate cancer. Viamet’s drug candidates are based on its proprietary technology that allows the company to identify enzymes containing metal. This “metallophile technology” allows the company to identify targets with therapeutic and commercial potential.

Before joining Viamet, Rudoltz was senior global clinical leader at Novartis Oncology where he oversaw clinical development activities for cancer drugs Gleevec and Tasigna. Rudoltz’s 20-year pharmaceutical career also includes posts at GPC Biotech, Enzon Pharmaceuticals and Berlex Laboratories. Rudoltz holds a bachelor’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University.

Viamet was co-founded by Holden Thorp, a former University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill chemistry professor who is now chancellor at the school. The company has raised more than $24 million in venture capital from Intersouth Partners, Hatteras Venture Partners, Novartis Option Fund, Lilly Ventures, Lurie Investment Fund, Astellas Venture Management and Headlands Ventures. Viamet last year signed a licensing agreement with Novartis valued at up to $200 million if Viamet can develop certain enzymes for the Swiss pharmaceutical company.

Photo from Flickr user Rosmary