Syndax Names Steven M. Fruchtman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer

Print 11 October 2013

WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Syndax Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced the appointment of Steven M. Fruchtman, M.D., a hematologist/oncologist with extensive experience in early and late-stage drug development with biopharmaceutical companies and in clinical practice, as chief medical officer.

Dr. Fruchtman will oversee clinical development programs for entinostat in breast, lung and other malignancies. This will include the company's work with ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on the Phase 3 clinical trial of entinostat in patients with recurrent or metastatic estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer.

"As we continue preparation for the start of the Phase 3 study, Steve brings highly relevant clinical development experience to our company," said Arlene M. Morris, Syndax's chief executive officer. "His expertise will prove to be beneficial as we continue to evaluate the development of entinostat in other solid and hematological tumors."

Prior to joining Syndax, Dr. Fruchtman was chief medical officer at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Inc., where he oversaw the development of multiple hematology and oncology products, including three marketed drugs: Fusilev^®, Zevalin^® and Folotyn^®. He supervised the preparation of the anticipated New Drug Application (NDA) filings for belinostat and apaziquone. In addition, he oversaw clinical development activities for a pipeline of 10 compounds in varying stages of development. Prior to joining Spectrum, Dr. Fruchtman was vice president of clinical research at Allos Therapeutics Inc., senior director of U.S. clinical development and medical affairs, oncology at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and medical director of hematology and oncology therapeutics at Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals. While at Novartis, Dr. Fruchtman was a leader in the development of panobinostat, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, and everolimus, an mTor inhibitor for hematological indications.

Dr. Fruchtman holds a bachelor's degree in neurobiology from Cornell University and a medical degree from New York Medical College. He completed an internal medicine residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and specialty training in hematology and oncology at the Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Fruchtman held faculty positions at Mount Sinai Hospital where, over that time, he served as director of the Myeloproliferative Disorder Program, Clinical Director of the Division of Hematology, Stem Cell Transplantation Service, Hematology Fellowship Training Program, Sickle Cell Program and Mount Sinai Hematology Faculty Practice Associates. Dr. Fruchtman is also a member of The New York Academy of Science, The Association of the Advancement of Science, The American College of Physicians, The American Society of Hematology, the Transplantation Society, the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine and the International Society for Hematotherapy and Graft Engineering. He is board certified in internal medicine and hematology and is a diplomate of The American Board of Internal Medicine. He has lectured around the world and is an author of more than 70 scientific publications, books and book chapters.

About Syndax Pharmaceuticals

Syndax is developing entinostat for the treatment of patients with therapy-resistant cancers. Designated a Breakthrough Therapy by the FDA, entinostat is designed to prolong the effectiveness of current cancer treatments through an epigenetic mechanism that reverses drug resistance. The company holds worldwide rights to entinostat, an oral, highly selective HDAC inhibitor that is expected to be evaluated in combination with exemestane in a pivotal Phase 3 clinical study for the treatment of ER+ metastatic breast cancer.

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