Salarius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that Daniela Santiesteban, Ph.D., has been named Director of the company's new targeted protein degradation program. In this newly created position, Dr. Santiesteban will assume responsibility for overseeing the development of SP-3164, the program's lead drug candidate, and advancing it into clinical trials. Her appointment immediately follows Salarius' recent strategic expansion into the targeted protein degradation field through its acquisition of SP-3164 and other assets from DeuteRx LLC.

Dr. Santiesteban will lead the Salarius team working with DeuteRx scientists to complete studies that will be included in Investigational New Drug (IND) applications for SP-3164 and other targeted protein degradation assets emerging from the purchased intellectual property portfolio. Salarius expects to file an IND for SP-3164 with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the first half of 2023.