Adial Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADIL) (“Adial” or the “Company”), which recently acquired Azora Therapeutics, today announced the appointment of David Rubenstein, M.D., Ph.D. as Chief Scientist. Dr. Rubenstein will lead the Company’s research and scientific strategy, including the continued development of AT177, a proprietary, oral, colon-targeted aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist being developed for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC).
Dr. Rubenstein brings deep, directly relevant experience in AhR biology. As Chief Scientific Officer of Dermavant Sciences, he shepherded tapinarof (VTAMA® cream 1%), the first and only AhR agonist approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, through development, approval and commercialization, for plaque psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. His work established AhR agonism as a clinically validated and commercially proven mechanism in immune-mediated inflammatory disease.
“Dave is one of very few drug developers who has taken an AhR agonist all the way from the lab to patients, and that experience maps directly to what we are building with AT177,” said Matt Davidson, Ph.D., Chief Development Officer and Director of Adial. “We believe that his understanding of AhR pharmacology, translational science and the regulatory path for a first-in-class mechanism will be invaluable as we complete IND-enabling work and prepare to enter the clinic next year.”
Dr. Rubenstein added, “Tapinarof demonstrated what targeted AhR activation can do for patients with inflammatory disease. The goal now is to bring that biology to the colon while keeping systemic exposure low, which is exactly how AT177 is being designed. I’m excited to join Matt and the team at this stage and to help advance a new oral approach for people with ulcerative colitis who still lack durable treatment options.”
As Chief Scientist, Dr. Rubenstein will oversee discovery, translational, and nonclinical research, including the IND-enabling program for AT177 and preclinical studies characterizing AT177’s mechanism and colon selectivity relative to other agents in development for UC. Dr. Rubenstein is a physician-scientist and has previously held senior roles focused on preclinical development at Stiefel and GSK. Dr. Rubenstein received his M.D. and Ph.D. from Duke University.
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