Tim Walbert Joins COUR Pharmaceuticals' Board

COUR Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on creating innovative therapies to induce antigen-specific tolerance for immune-mediated diseases, has announced the appointment of Tim Walbert to its Board of Directors. Walbert brings over three decades of leadership experience in the biotech industry, notably from his 15-year tenure at Horizon Therapeutics. At Horizon, Walbert served as president, CEO, and chairman, growing the company into a prominent developer of treatments for rare diseases. In 2023, Horizon Therapeutics was acquired by Amgen for $28 billion. Walbert now advises Amgen and serves on the boards of several publicly traded companies, including Sagimet Biosciences, Mirum Pharmaceuticals, and Century Therapeutics.

Before his time at Horizon, Walbert held significant roles in other biotech firms. He was president, CEO, and director of IDM Pharma, and before that, he was the executive vice president of commercial operations at NeoPharm. His earlier career includes key positions at Abbott (AbbVie), where he oversaw the development and launch of HUMIRA, as well as roles at CELEBREX North America, G.D. Searle & Company, Merck, and Wyeth.

John J. Puisis, founder, president, and CEO of COUR, highlighted the strategic importance of Walbert’s appointment, stating that his vast expertise would greatly enhance the company's capabilities. He emphasized that Walbert's experience in guiding companies through the stages of discovery, development, and commercialization of novel treatments will be invaluable. COUR is poised for significant clinical milestones, including the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 2 clinical trial for CNP-106, an investigational treatment for myasthenia gravis, and the anticipated filing of an IND for Type 1 diabetes later this year. Puisis expressed eagerness for Walbert to contribute to COUR’s mission.

Walbert expressed enthusiasm about joining COUR Pharmaceuticals, particularly praising the company's nanoparticle approach, which offers the potential to create a diverse pipeline of disease-modifying products. This platform technology has been validated through clinical data and partnerships with prominent investors and industry partners. Walbert looks forward to leveraging his experience from Horizon Therapeutics to drive value for patients and stakeholders at COUR.

COUR Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to developing first-in-class therapies that reprogram the immune system to address the root causes of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The company’s product candidates have shown promise in clinical and preclinical trials, demonstrating the ability to induce antigen-specific immune tolerance. COUR is advancing treatments for myasthenia gravis and Type 1 diabetes, and has partnered with Takeda Pharmaceuticals for a treatment in Celiac Disease and with Ironwood Pharmaceuticals for Primary Biliary Cholangitis.