Arris Names Michael Venuti to Vice President, Chemistry.SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO South San Francisco, city (1990 pop. 54,312), San Mateo co., W Calif.; inc. 1908. South San Francisco has several industrial parks; its manufactures include medical supplies and equipment, foods, paint, paper products, consumer goods, and clothing. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 10, 1995-- Arris Pharmaceutical Corporation (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : ARRS ARRS American Roentgen Ray Society. ) today announced the promotion of Michael C. Venuti, Ph.D. to the newly created position, Vice President of Chemistry. Dr. Venuti will manage the four functions that represent Arris' core chemistry capabilities: medicinal chemistry, combinatorial chemistry, computational science and structural biophysics biophysics, application of various methods and principles of physical science to the study of biological problems. In physiological biophysics physical mechanisms have been used to explain such biological processes as the transmission of nerve impulses, the muscle . The position reports directly to the chief executive officer. According to John Walker, chief executive officer, "We created the new position to both focus and strengthen the company's core discovery capabilities in chemistry -- in synthetic organic chemistry, peptide synthesis and medicinal chemistry. We wanted to make sure that these skills would be used broadly across all scientific programs, regardless of therapeutic target. Clearly, Dr. Venuti has demonstrated the leadership and scientific prowess to guide these broadly based functions." Walker added that the company's two major research programs are unaffected by the internal restructuring. The receptor dimerization program and the protease inhibition program continue to be directed (respectively) by Michael J. Ross, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief technical officer, and by Heinz Gschwend, Ph.D., Vice President, Research and Development, Inflammation. Specifically, Dr. Ross continues to be responsible for the company's work to develop small molecule therapeutics that mimic the activity of cytokines and growth factors. In this area, Dr. Ross manages the company's collaborations with Amgen and with Pharmacia, and will direct efforts to gain new collaborative partners to research small molecule mimetics of GCSF GCSF Granulocyte Cell Stimulating Factor GCSF Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railway Company (also abbreviated GC&SF) (granulocyte granulocyte /gran·u·lo·cyte/ (gran´u-lo-sit?) granular leukocyte.granulocyt´ic band-form granulocyte band cell. gran·u·lo·cyte n. colony stimulating Factor colony stimulating factor n. A hormone produced in the cells lining the blood vessels that stimulates the bone marrow to synthesize white blood cells. ) and TPO (Twisted Pair Only) Refers to the use of twisted pair wire when other options are available. For example, a TPO suffix at the end of 3com Ethernet adapter model numbers indicates the card has only an RJ45 connector. (thrombopoietin). Dr. Gschwend will continue managing research and development activities under Arris' agreement with Bayer, AG, as well as the proprietary Delta technology program expansion into clotting disorders and infectious diseases. Dr. Venuti joined Arris in November, 1994, as director of medicinal chemistry. He had previously co-founded Parnassus Pharmaceuticals, a start-up biotech company, where he served as vice president and chief scientific officer. He held prior positions at both Syntex and Genentech between 1979 and 1994. Dr. Venuti received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry in 1979 from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Cambridge; coeducational; chartered 1861, opened 1865 in Boston, moved 1916. It has long been recognized as an outstanding technological institute and its Sloan School of Management has notable programs in business, . Arris Pharmaceutical Corporation is engaged in the discovery and development of synthetic small molecule therapeutics. The company uses structure-based drug design that integrates molecular biology, structural biophysics and synthetic, combinatorial, medicinal and computational chemistry capabilities to shorten the drug discovery and development cycle. Arris' research and initial product development program are focused in two major areas: protease inhibitor-based therapeutics for multiple therapeutic applications; and oral cytokine and growth factor mimetics. CONTACT: Arris Pharmaceutical Corp., South San Francisco John P. Walker or Shari Annes, 415/737-8600 |
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