Phoenix Molecular Designs (PhoenixMD), a privately-held biotechnology company designing precise cancer therapeutics by targeting essential kinases, announced today the appointment of Magda Marquet, Ph.D., to its Board of Directors. Dr. Marquet brings a wealth of entrepreneurial and biotech experience to PhoenixMD, having founded, led, and commercialized many highly successful companies, including Althea Technologies (acquired by Ajinomoto in 2013).
“Magda is an incredibly talented pillar of the San Diego life sciences community, with a foot in everything from drug development to contract research, investment, mergers and acquisitions, and more,” said Sandra Dunn, Ph.D., CEO of PhoenixMD. “We’re thrilled to have her on our Board and to have the support of such a visionary leader as we create revolutionary medicines.”
Over the past three decades, Dr. Marquet evolved from scientist to decision-maker. In 1998, she co-founded a contract development and manufacturing organization, Althea Technologies, which she co-led for the next 10 years. In 2013, it was acquired by Ajinomoto, becoming Aji Bio-Pharma. Dr. Marquet remains Chairman of the Aji Bio-Pharma board. She is also the Co-Founder of AltheaDx, a commercial-stage pharmacogenomics company, and Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ALMA Life Sciences, an early stage investment firm for innovative healthcare companies.
“In recent years, I’ve been working with local leaders to really strengthen and support the San Diego entrepreneurial ecosystem,” said Dr. Marquet. “PhoenixMD is a fantastic example of what we are hoping to achieve, promoting innovative, insightful, and ambitious companies as they develop meaningful therapies. I look forward to working with Sandi and the team to advance PMD-026 toward the clinic to treat triple negative breast cancer.”
Dr. Marquet serves as a board member of Senté, Matrisys Bioscience, Arcturus Therapeutics (ARCT) and Independa, along with several non-profit organizations, including BIOCOM, CONNECT, EDC and Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego. She is an advisor to Mesa Verde Venture Partners and City National Bank.
In addition, Dr. Marquet has received numerous prestigious awards throughout her career including the 2005 Regional Ernst&Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in the Life Sciences category, the Athena Pinnacle award, the Director of the Year award (Corporate Governance) from the Corporate Directors Forum and has been inducted into the CONNECT Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. She earned her Ph.D. in biochemical engineering from INSA/University of Toulouse, France.
About PhoenixMD
PhoenixMD is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company designing precise cancer therapeutics and companion diagnostics by targeting kinases, a class of highly druggable enzymes to treat a wide range of oncology indications. PhoenixMD is focused on developing first-in-class inhibitors against ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK), an important drug target for cancer, heart disease, and inflammation. Due to its emerging leadership in kinase inhibition, PhoenixMD has entered into partnerships with well-recognized academic, non-profit institutions and development companies such as the National Cancer Institute (NIH), University of Florida, Kyushu University, Mayo Clinic, University of Hawaii Comprehensive Cancer Center and MD Anderson. PhoenixMD is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada, with U.S. operations in San Diego, Calif. For more information, visit phoenixmd.ca.
