Critical hire at time of major transformation in the company’s evolution
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – September 30, 2014 – Nimbus Discovery LLC, a biotechnology company discovering novel medicines against important, but previously inaccessible drug targets, today announced the appointment of Donald “Don” Nicholson, Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Nicholson brings more than 25 years of experience as an entrepreneurial scientist and leader with a proven track record of creating and building therapeutic pipeline value.
“Don has deep expertise in the strategic and operational components of complex drug discovery. His keen insight into the scientific and clinical potential of the novel product portfolio at Nimbus will be very advantageous in generating long-term value for the Company,” said Dan Lynch, Executive Chairman of the Nimbus Board of Directors. “We are extremely pleased to leverage Don’s scientific acumen and business vision in his role as CEO.”
To date, Nimbus has built an extensive portfolio of programs in immunology, oncology and metabolic diseases, targeting mechanisms that have been traditionally difficult or intractable. The company is positioned to enter human clinical trials in early 2015 with the first-ever allosteric inhibitor of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and will advance other targets and mechanisms aimed at auto-immune disorders and cancer into development. In addition to its core portfolio, Nimbus has secured industry-leading collaborations with such companies as Shire and Monsanto.
“Nimbus has uniquely built an impressive portfolio of novel compounds directed at several of the most important biological targets known to the drug industry. It is thrilling to join the company at such a watershed moment as the lead programs move toward clinical development,” said Dr. Nicholson. “I look forward to working with such a highly respected team of colleagues, Board members and investors to deliver the greatest value of the portfolio to patients.”
Dr. Nicholson joins Nimbus from Merck where he held various strategic, leadership and operational roles in diverse therapeutic areas, including respiratory, inflammation, immunology, bone, endocrine, urology, infectious diseases and neurosciences. He began his career in 1988 at the Merck-Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research in Montreal and advanced through various positions of increasing responsibility including Vice President & Site Head of the Merck Neurosciences Research site in San Diego, Calif., and most recently as Vice President and Worldwide Discovery Head for the Respiratory & Immunology Franchise, in Kenilworth, N.J. Dr. Nicholson has co-authored more than 150 publications in peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals and is internationally-recognized for his contributions to the field of apoptotic cell death. He received his Ph.D. and an Honors Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry from the University of Western Ontario, and trained as a Medical Research Council post-doctoral fellow at the University of Munich in Germany. He is the recipient of multiple academic and professional honors.
About Nimbus
Nimbus Discovery Inc., a biotechnology company, harnesses cutting-edge computational technologies to uncover breakthroughs in small molecule pharmacology. Nimbus focuses on medically important and highly sought-after disease targets that have proven inaccessible to traditional industry approaches and its robust pre-clinical pipeline currently includes novel agents for the treatment of cancer, metabolic disease and inflammation. Nimbus is organized as a constellation of small, nimble teams of experienced drug-hunters deployed across program-focused subsidiary companies. Each team is freed from conventional barriers to scientific success, chartered to create solutions, and geared for program asset deals with leading pharmaceutical companies. Founded in 2009, Nimbus partnered with Schrödinger to invent and apply a physics-based approach that establishes a new standard for rational drug design. Nimbus is backed by world-class life science investors, including Atlas Venture, SR One, Lilly Ventures and Bill Gates. The company has been named by FierceBiotech as one of 2013’s Fierce 15, designating it as one of the most promising private biotechnology companies in the industry. For more information please visit www.nimbustx.com.