Olathe, Kan., February 26, 2020 – ELIAS Animal Health, a clinical stage development company advancing novel treatments for cancer in companion animals, announced today the appointment of Evan Courtemanche as Vice President of Manufacturing, and Jody Ehrhardt, as Director of Clinical Studies.
Evan Courtemanche brings an extensive background in mammalian cell-culture manufacturing and supply chain functions in FDA and USDA-regulated therapeutics, and managing contract manufacturing relationships, both international and domestic. He currently oversees the biologics manufacturing processes and facility where the company’s USDA-regulated cancer immunotherapy is manufactured. Previously, Mr. Courtemanche served in manufacturing leadership and oversight roles for Aratana Therapeutics and Genzyme.
Jody Ehrhardt, CCRC, brings more than 25 years of experience in clinical studies in both human and animal sciences. As the Director of Clinical Studies for ELIAS, she manages clinical study development, including protocol composition, study site recruitment and management, and regulatory reporting. Previously, she served as a clinical research consultant for CEVA Animal Health and Psychiatry Associates of Kansas City. Ms. Ehrhardt currently serves as Vice President of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals local chapter.
“As the company pursues USDA licensure and commercialization, I am excited to have Evan and Jody on our team,” said Tammie Wahaus, CEO of ELIAS. “Evan’s leadership in our manufacturing operations and Jody’s clinical trial management experience will prove invaluable as we push forward on bringing the ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy to more companion animals this year.”
With the addition of these critical team members, ELIAS is preparing to launch a larger clinical study in the spring of 2020 to pursue licensure of its cancer immunotherapy (ECI®) treatment as an alternative to chemotherapy for dogs diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a deadly form of bone cancer. In a preliminary clinical study, the median survival time was 415 days, compared to the historical 270-300 days for traditional chemotherapy treatments, suggesting that ECI holds the potential to significantly improve survival times and quality of life for the canine patient.
About ELIAS Animal Health
Based in Olathe, Kan., ELIAS Animal Health is a medical biotechnology company advancing its novel targeted T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of canine cancers. The ELIAS cancer immunotherapy is being distributed to veterinarians under 9 CFR 103.3 as an experimental product. The company’s novel therapeutic approach offers the promise of improved clinical outcomes and the potential for fundamentally changing the way cancer is treated. For more information, please visit www.eliasanimalhealth.com.