US clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company SFA Therapeutics Inc announced on Tuesday the appointment of James Kirwin, MBA, as its new chief operating officer.

In this role, Kirwin will lead the identification and negotiation of clinical trial study agreements, collaboration with CMC and regulatory teams, and the development of GMP clinical trial materials with Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations.

Kirwin is a biopharmaceutical clinical operations leader with over 20 years of experience in directing research and innovation at global pharmaceutical companies as well as emerging biotechnology start-ups. Kirwin's expertise spans across multiple managerial and operational functions, including research and development of pre-clinical and clinical assets and the management of complex, high-performing teams.

Kirwin has served as the executive director, global head of Clinical Operations at Arvinas and vice president, Clinical Development Operations and Clinical Alliances at Iterum Therapeutics. He has served in senior positions at Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Taiho Oncology, Medtronic Spine and Biologics, Intrexon Corporation, Pfizer, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and AstraZeneca.

Dr Ira Spector, SFA Therapeutics chief executive officer, said: "As we advance SFA-002 and other therapeutic candidates through the clinic, Jim will be an integral member of our team in managing all aspects of Clinical Development Operations. With his exceptional ability to execute strategy with cross-functional teams across a variety of diseases, Jim will bring organisational excellence to SFA Therapeutics as chief operating officer. Jim's strategic direction will be essential to contributing to SFA's mission to bring safe and effective drugs to patients suffering from inflammatory and immunologic conditions."