LQT Therapeutics Appoints Additional Directors to Strengthen Fight Against Long QT Syndrome
We are now Thryv.
LQT Therapeutics Inc. has changed its name to Thryv Therapeutics Inc.
Dr. Saumya Das, PhD, MD and Marc-Olivier Sirard, CPA Appointed to the Board of Directors
September 29th, 2020 | LQT Therapeutics Inc.
LAVAL, Québec, Canada - Sept. 29, 2020 - LQT Therapeutics Inc. (LQTT), a life-science company dedicated to discovering and evaluating advanced novel pharmacologic treatments for Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), today announced the addition of Marc-Olivier Sirard, CPA, senior investment advisor at Fonds de solidarité FTQ, and Dr. Saumya Das, PhD, MD, Director of the Resynchronization and Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, to its board of directors. Additionally, scientific co-founders of the company Drs. David Milan, PhD, MD, Chief Scientific Officer of the Leducq Foundation, and Anthony Rosenzweig, MD, Chief of Cardiology and Co-Director of the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, were appointed observers of the board.
“LQT Therapeutics’ mission is to relentlessly pursue advanced treatments for patients suffering from Long QT Syndrome,” said Paul F. Truex, chairman, LQT Therapeutics, “and the addition of Dr. Das and Marc-Olivier strengthen both our pre-clinical research efforts as well as our mid- and long-term investment roadmap. In particular, Dr. Das’ extensive research on heart arrhythmias and his hands-on clinical practice with cardiac patients, including those with Long QT Syndrome, provide invaluable insights as we find solutions for this life-threatening condition.”
“Along with my fellow scientific co-founders of LQT Therapeutics, we are completely aligned with the mission of the company and are committed to providing our expertise to accomplish the goal of finding therapies for patients,” commented Dr. Das. “The consequences of undiagnosed or poorly treated Long QT Syndrome can be debilitating and potentially life-threatening. Constant monitoring for arrhythmias and the lack of safe, effective medications to prevent those arrhythmias adversely affect the quality of life of patients. The promise of new treatment options specifically targeting the underlying disease provides hope of returning LQTS patients to a normal, active and productive life.”
LQT Therapeutics aims to develop a series of preclinical compounds to provide new treatment options for patients with Long QT Syndrome and other cardiac arrhythmias. LQTS is a rare genetic heart rhythm condition that causes rapid, chaotic heartbeats or arrhythmias due to a prolonged QT interval. These arrhythmias, called Torsade des Pointes, may result in a sudden fainting spell or seizure, cardiac arrest, and in some cases, sudden cardiac death. According to the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one out of 7,000 people living in the US may have LQTS with an estimated 3,000-4,000 deaths in children and young adults each year. People who have LQTS have few signs or symptoms and may only become aware of their condition due to a serious cardiac event, an electrocardiogram, family history, or genetic testing.
Together, Dr. Das and Mr. Sirard join Mr. Truex, Dr. Philip Sager, MD and Dr. Marc Vidal, PhD on the company’s board of directors.
About LQT Therapeutics
Based in Laval, Québec, Canada, LQT Therapeutics (LQTT) is a biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing therapies for the treatment of all forms of Long QT Syndrome (LQTS). LQTS is a rare orphan disorder affecting an estimated 1 in 7,000 people in the United States. LQTS often goes undiagnosed and is believed to result in 3,000 to 4,000 sudden deaths in children and young adults each year in the United States. More details about LQTS can be found at www.sads.org.
LQTT was founded on discoveries and innovations of its three scientific founders in collaboration with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Anthony Rosenzweig, MD, Chief of Cardiology and Co-Director of the Corrigan Minehan Heart Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Saumya Das, MD, PhD, Co-Director of Resynchronization and Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics Program, Massachusetts General Hospital; and David Milan, MD, Chief Scientific Officer of the Leducq Foundation all continue to provide scientific and clinical leadership for LQTT’s development initiatives.
With founding investment by Fonds de solidarité FTQ, a development capital fund that calls upon the solidarity and savings of Quebecers to help fulfill its mission to contribute to Québec's economic growth, LQTT is pioneering a precision medicine approach to its discovery and development efforts by exploiting advancements in genetic identification of Long QT Syndrome and its various sub-types, targeting unique biomechanical causes of each sub-type of Long QT Syndrome, efficiently selecting appropriate small-molecule therapeutics to target specific biological pathways to interrupt adverse cardiac signalling, and working with scientific and clinical leaders worldwide to broaden its portfolio to include treatments for all subtypes of LQTS. LQTT’s initial focus is developing small molecule inhibitors targeted at a kinase responsible for electrical remodelling of ion channels which cause Long QT Syndrome. More details about the company are available on our website.
For media contact and other inquiries, please email: admin@lqttrx.com
