WATERTOWN, Mass.– Progentos Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing regenerative therapies to restore myelin and function for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating diseases, announced that Paul Frohna, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the company as Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Frohna brings over two decades of experience in translational medicine, clinical development, and regulatory leadership, including the advancement and approval of multiple therapies across MS, fibrotic disease, and oncology. He will play a key role as Progentos prepares to advance its lead remyelination program into human clinical trials.
“Paul’s leadership in MS drug development and proven track record of translating novel science into approved therapies make him an ideal addition to our team,” said Christopher Loose, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Progentos Therapeutics. “With our development candidate showing strong promise, we are eager to begin clinical studies and move closer to providing MS patients with the first therapies that can repair and restore damaged myelin.”
Dr. Frohna began his biopharmaceutical career at Genentech, where he led the Rituxan Phase 2 program for relapsing and primary progressive MS and patented the use of B-cell depletion therapy for the disease—a discovery that contributed to the later development of ocrelizumab. He subsequently served as Vice President of Clinical Development at Fibrogen, Chief Medical Officer at Profibrix, and later as Vice President of Clinical Development and Translational Medicine at Receptos, where he oversaw the clinical development of ozanimod (ZEPOSIA) for relapsing MS and other immune disorders. Most recently, he held CMO roles at ImCheck Therapeutics and Endeavor Biosciences and served as a consulting CMO for emerging biotech firms.
“Developing an agent capable of remyelinating axons affected by MS represents the next frontier in treating this disease,” said Dr. Frohna. “Progentos has generated exceptional preclinical data, and I’m eager to bring its first-in-class candidate into clinical testing. Although major progress has been made in slowing MS progression, there remains an urgent need for therapies that can repair existing damage. Progentos is uniquely positioned to meet that need.”
Dr. Frohna holds an M.D. from Georgetown University, a Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Pennsylvania, and a pharmacy degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He currently serves on the board of directors for Accure Therapeutics and on the scientific and clinical advisory board for IAMA Therapeutics. He is an author of more than sixty peer-reviewed publications in leading scientific journals.
