AUSTIN, Texas, April 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plus Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSTV), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing targeted radiotherapeutics with advanced platform technologies for central nervous system (CNS) cancers, today announced that Andrew Brenner, M.D., Ph.D. has formally joined the Company in a part-time capacity. Dr. Brenner will provide substantial input on the Company’s central nervous system cancer development programs while continuing to maintain his academic practice and laboratory. In addition, Barbara Blouw, Ph.D. joins the Company as Vice President, Clinical Affairs.
“I am excited to be working more closely with the Plus team to accelerate the development of its radiopharmaceutical pipeline,” said Andrew Brenner, M.D., Ph.D. “Rhenium (186Re) obisbemeda has the potential to transform the treatment of CNS cancers, and I am pleased to be able to increase my commitment to Plus with the goal of accelerating the late-stage clinical development of the company’s existing trials in recurrent glioblastoma (GBM), leptomeningeal disease and pediatric brain cancer.”
Dr. Brenner is a board-certified internist, medical oncologist, and tumor biologist with a focus in drug development for the management of primary brain tumors and breast neoplasms. Dr. Brenner’s academic work focuses on both clinical cancer management and the development of novel therapies to treat breast and central nervous system tumors. Dr. Brenner has received numerous grants and investigational new drug approvals based on his translational research. Additionally, he has led multiple multicenter trials for the treatment of CNS neoplasms and served on Steering Committees for Phase III trials in GBM. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University and earned his doctorate in biological science and tumor biology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center – Science Park. Dr. Brenner received his medical degree from the Texas Tech University Health Science Center and completed a residency at Texas A&M Health Science Center in Temple, Tx. He completed his fellowship in medical oncology at UT Health San Antonio.
Dr. Barbara Blouw has a Ph.D. from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and completed her postdoctoral research at the Sanford Burnham Prebys, Medical Discovery Institute, and the University of California, San Diego Division of Biological Sciences in basic cancer biopsy. Professionally, she has worked for Navigate Biopharma (a Novartis Company), Halozyme and Biocept. Dr. Blouw has a broad background in oncology research, clinical trial design, regulatory submissions, biostatistics, and clinical operations. She also has expertise in CNS biomarker development using in vitro and in vivo preclinical models and assay development and validations for clinical trial testing per the College of American Pathologists Laboratory Accreditation Program and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments.
“As we prepare for the future, Plus is substantially strengthening its management in key areas such as cancer biology, neuro-oncologic clinical development, and central nervous system biomarker development,” said Marc H. Hedrick, M.D., M.B.A. “I have worked closely with both Dr. Brenner and Dr. Blouw for some time now, and they are important new additions for our future. Their positive impact will be felt immediately.”
About Plus Therapeutics
Plus Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing targeted radiotherapeutics for difficult-to-treat cancers of the central nervous system with the potential to enhance clinical outcomes for patients. Combining image-guided local beta radiation and targeted drug delivery approaches, the Company is advancing a pipeline of product candidates with lead programs in recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) and leptomeningeal metastases (LM). The Company has built a supply chain through strategic partnerships that enable the development, manufacturing, and future potential commercialization of its products. Plus Therapeutics is led by an experienced and dedicated leadership team and has operations in key cancer clinical development hubs including Austin and San Antonio, Texas. For more information, visit https://plustherapeutics.com/.
