- Salk Institute Medal of Excellence and American Association of
Cancer Research Lifetime Achievement Award for Cancer Research -
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 18, 2016--
Verastem, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSTM), focused on discovering and developing
drugs to treat cancer, today announced that Robert Weinberg, Ph.D.,
Verastem Co-founder and Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board, and a
pioneer in cancer research, was recently honored with the Salk Institute
Medal for Research Excellence and the 13th annual American
Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Lifetime Achievement Award for
Cancer Research.
Dr. Weinberg is a founding member of the Whitehead Institute for
Biomedical Research and the Daniel K. Ludwig Professor for Cancer
Research in the Department of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT). He is the internationally recognized authority on the
genetic basis of human cancer development and is most widely known for
his discoveries of the first human oncogene, a gene that causes normal
cells to form tumors, and the first tumor suppressor gene. His lab now
primarily focuses on two areas: the interactions between epithelial and
stromal cells (the two major types of cells found in mammalian tissue)
that produce carcinomas and the processes by which cancer stem cells
form, invade and metastasize.
“Bob’s research has revolutionized the way cancer is understood and has
paved the way for powerful new technologies to help diagnose and treat
cancer,” said Robert Forrester, Verastem President and Chief Executive
Officer. “Everyone at Verastem is thrilled that he has been honored by
both the Salk Institute and the AACR for the tremendous contributions he
has made over the years in the battle against cancer. We are proud to
have him as a colleague in this important fight.”
The Salk Institute Medal for Research Excellence, a distinction that has
only been awarded twice before in the Institute’s 55-year history, was
awarded to Dr. Weinberg during an award ceremony on April 13 in
La-Jolla, California. Neuroscientist Solomon Snyder of Johns Hopkins
University School of Medicine, also received this prestigious award.
The first Salk Institute Medals were awarded in 2006 to Donald Metcalf,
an Australian physiologist whose research on cancer has improved disease
treatment, and to Paul Farmer, anthropologist, physician and co-founder
of Partners in Health. In 2010, gene expression pioneer Robert G. Roeder
of The Rockefeller University was awarded the Salk Medal for Research
Excellence, and Irwin M. Jacobs, renowned entrepreneur and
philanthropist, received the Salk Medal for Public Service. In 2014,
violinist Itzhak Perlman was awarded the Public Service medal for all he
has done to eradicate polio around the globe.
Dr. Weinberg was presented with the AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement
in Cancer Research during the AACR 2016 Annual Meeting opening ceremony
on Sunday, April 17. The AACR established the Award for Lifetime
Achievement in Cancer Research in 2004 as a means to honor an individual
who has made significant contributions to cancer research, either
through a single scientific discovery or a body of work. These
contributions, whether they have been in research, leadership, or
mentorship, must have had a lasting impact on the cancer field and must
have demonstrated a lifetime commitment to progress against cancer.
Weinberg, who received his Ph.D. in biology from MIT in 1969, has held
research positions at the Weizmann Institute and the Salk Institute. In
1982, he helped found Whitehead Institute, joined the faculty as a
professor of biology at MIT, and published his landmark paper "Mechanism
of Activation of a Human Oncogene" in the journal Nature.
In 1999, another of his major papers, "Creation of Human Tumor Cells
with Defined Genetic Elements," was also published in Nature.
In collaboration with Dr. Douglas Hanahan, Dr. Weinberg authored the
foundational paper, Hallmarks of Cancer, which was published in Cell
in 2000 and its update, Hallmarks of Cancer: The Next Generation, in
2011. Dr. Weinberg is an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of
Sciences and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He
has received numerous honors and awards, including the Discover Magazine
1982 Scientist of the Year, the Sloan Prize of the General Motors Cancer
Research Foundation, and the 1997 National Medal of Science.
Dr. Weinberg is the author or editor of five books and more than 350
articles. Three of the books are intended for a lay audience; “One
Renegade Cell,” “Racing to the Beginning of the Road: The Search for the
Origin of Cancer” and “Genes and the Biology of Cancer” are co-authored
with Dr. Harold E. Varmus, former Director of the National Institutes of
Health. More recently, Dr. Weinberg has published a textbook “The
Biology of Cancer,” which is intended for doctoral students learning
about this disease. Dr. Weinberg is a member of the National Academy of
Sciences, the Institute of Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences.
About Verastem, Inc.
Verastem, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSTM) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on
discovering and developing drugs to improve outcomes for patients with
cancer. Our product candidates utilize a multi-faceted approach to treat
cancer by reducing cancer stem cells, enhancing anti-tumor immunity, and
modulating the local tumor microenvironment. Our most advanced clinical
product candidates are the Focal Adhesion Kinase inhibitors, VS-6063 and
VS-4718, and the dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, VS-5584. For more
information, please visit www.verastem.com.
Verastem forward-looking statements notice:
This press release includes forward-looking statements about Verastem’s
strategy, future plans and prospects, including statements regarding the
utility of treating cancer by reducing cancer stem cells, enhancing
anti-tumor immunity, and modulating the local tumor environment. The
words “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,”
“may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “potential,” “will,”
“would,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Each
forward-looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied in such statement. Applicable risks and uncertainties include
the risks that Verastem’s product candidates will not receive regulatory
approval or become commercially successful products. Other risks and
uncertainties include those identified under the heading “Risk Factors”
in Verastem’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2015 and in any subsequent SEC filings. The forward-looking statements
contained in this press release reflect Verastem’s current views with
respect to future events, and Verastem does not undertake and
specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements.
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Source: Verastem, Inc.
Verastem, Inc.
Brian Sullivan, 781-292-4214
bsullivan@verastem.com
