Promedior, a Malvern, Penn.-based clinical stage biotech developing novel biologic therapeutics for the treatment of fibrosis, has appointed Suzanne L. Bruhn, Ph.D., as president, CEO and to the board of directors.

Previously, Bruhn served at Shire as senior vice president of strategic planning and program management of the Human Genetic Therapies division, where she played a key leadership role in the development of multiple protein therapeutics for rare, orphan diseases with annual sales today of more than $1 billion. During her tenure at Shire and Transkaryotic Therapies (acquired by Shire in 2005), Bruhn was instrumental in advancing new compounds into clinical development and then continued to manage product strategy, portfolio management, program management and global regulatory affairs for the rare disease portfolio. Before serving with Shire, she served at Cytotherapeutics and played a key role developing the encapsulated cell technology platform for ophthalmic delivery. Bruhn currently serves on the board of directors of Raptor Pharmaceuticals, a public biotechnology company, and Crittenton Women's Union, a local non-profit organization helping low-income women.

Bruhn takes on the role of CEO at a time when Promedior is rapidly advancing its product candidates in human clinical trials for diseases involving fibrosis, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), myelofibrosis and retinal diseases. She is a seasoned biopharmaceutical leader with experience growing early stage R&D programs through clinical development and product commercialization.

Additionally, as part of the company's evolution, Promedior will move its headquarters and operations to the Boston area to access planned new hires in research and clinical drug development.

"Having recently completed the Series D financing in February and with the company positioned to move into later stage clinical studies within the next year, this was an appropriate time to transition to a new CEO,” said Jim Broderick, M.D., chairman of Promedior and partner at Morgenthaler Ventures. “Sue's strong business leadership and success in commercializing biologic drugs will be a great asset for the company and its growing team."