SUNNYVALE, Calif.– Corsair Pharma, Inc., a private biopharmaceutical company developing a transdermal treprostinil prodrug, today announced the appointment of George W. Mahaffey as Chief Executive Officer. He will also serve as a Director of the Company. Mr. Mahaffey brings more than 35 years of pharmaceutical, biotech, device, and diagnostics experience, including having launched Ventavis®, the first FDA-approved inhaled prostacyclin product indicated for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Prostacyclin drugs are the standard of care drug class to treat PAH. The Corsair transdermal patch is intended to provide continuous and consistent blood levels of the prostacyclin drug treprostinil comparable to an infusion pump. It delivers an inactive prodrug, which is intended to cross the skin, enter the blood, and convert rapidly to treprostinil via the liver. Corsair also believes that the patch has the potential to treat other forms of pulmonary hypertension.
“Treprostinil is highly effective in the treatment of PAH. Unfortunately, its clinical benefit can be limited by severe rash, pain, and inconvenient or dose-limiting delivery obstacles. PAH patients need new options for the delivery of this foundational drug class,” said Mr. Mahaffey. “The potential for transdermal delivery of a treprostinil prodrug may provide physicians and patients with new treatment options that address PAH patients’ need for safety, efficacy, and convenience.”
“George brings to Corsair a track record of 14 years in successful CEO roles building, leading, and successfully exiting companies; and a breadth of commercial experience, particularly in the PAH space,” stated Ivan Gergel, M.D., Managing Partner, New Rhein Healthcare, and Chairman of the Corsair Board. “PAH is a devastating disease where there is a clear need for new treatment options offering a meaningful improvement in quality of life for patients suffering with this disease.”
