Dr. Myles D. Greenberg has been named president and CEO of Alucent Medical Inc., a new Salt Lake City-based company licensed to develop a drug and device combination therapy for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Alucent is owned by the research and development arm of Avera Health based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Alucent’s new treatment, Natural Vascular Scaffolding (NVS), has recently gained FDA approval to move forward with Phase 1 human clinical trials. NVS combines balloon angioplasty with a novel drug that builds natural scaffolding to keep the vessel open, potentially replacing the need for a stent. Avera scientists developed this product under the leadership of Ron Utecht. Alucent is currently conducting U.S. Phase 1 human clinical trials in three locations, including Salt Lake City.
“NVS therapy has the potential to dramatically improve the care of patients suffering from debilitating peripheral vascular disease, and I look forward to being a part of the team advancing this groundbreaking technology into patient treatment,” Greenberg said.
Greenberg brings to Alucent extensive experience in life-sciences related business and new product development, having served as a partner in early-stage healthcare venture capital firms HealthInvest Equity Partners and CHL Medical Partners based in Stamford, Connecticut, and as an active director of many companies developing novel medical devices, biopharmaceuticals and healthcare technologies.
Prior to his career in venture capital, Greenberg was an academic emergency physician and hospital administrator at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School in Boston. He holds a bachelor of applied science degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science, a doctor of medicine degree from Yale University School of Medicine and master of business administration from Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.
“Dr. Greenberg’s experience and knowledge of the biotechnology landscape will guide us through the crucial next steps of development,” said Dr. Dave Kapaska, regional president and CEO of Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center. “Avera has been supporting and investing in the research and development of this product since its inception.”
“With his years of experience helping early-stage companies develop new medical technologies, Dr. Greenberg is the right person to move Alucent forward toward successful clinical trials and eventual marketing,” said James Corbett, chairman of the Alucent board of directors.