Dr. Ira Spector, PhD, co-founder and CEO of SFA Therapeutics, discusses the company’s development of a novel platform to treat chronic, inflammation-mediated diseases that utilize metabolites formed in the microbiome. The company’s lead candidate SFA-002 was investigated in a six-patient Phase 1a study for psoriasis and showed very positive results – safe, strong efficacy, and durable response (one patient has gone 2+ years without treatment since completing the trial). The company is currently investigating SFA002 in a larger, 30-patient Phase 1b study that should complete enrollment by the end of the year.

Dr. Spector is the co-founder of SFA Therapeutics, a microbiome-derived biotech company focused on the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Ira is an experienced drug developer, with over 25 years of experience. He has helped develop 33 drugs, including Enbreltm, Effexxortm, Protonixtm, Prevenar-13tm, Mylotargtm at Wyeth/Pfizer, where he was VP of Clinical Operations and Vice-Chief of Development. At Allergan he helped develop Ozurdextm for Diabetic Macular Edema and Retinal Venous Occlusion, Botoxtm for Overactive Bladder, Botoxtm for Chronic Migraine, Juvedermtm XL and Botoxtm for cerebral palsy. Prior to Wyeth, he was VP and Partner at the PA Consulting Group. Before founding SFA Therapeutics, Ira was Executive VP of Analytics & Consulting at ICON. Ira holds BS degrees in Physics and Electrical Engineering from Washington University, where he was a Langsdorf Fellow, an MBA from Drexel University, and a PhD from Rutgers University, with a focus on biostatistics and epidemiology.

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