Lumos Pharma Promotes Pisit “Duke” Pitukcheewanont, MD to Chief Medical Officer

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lumos Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUMO), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on therapeutics for rare diseases, has promoted Pisit “Duke” Pitukcheewanont, MD, known also as Dr. Duke, to the position of Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective January 1, 2024. In this role, Dr. Pitukcheewanont will provide his leadership in Lumos Pharma's efforts to hone its clinical and regulatory strategy, and he will continue to oversee medical affairs as the Company prepares to initiate its pivotal Phase 3 trial evaluating the efficacy of oral LUM-201 in treating moderate pediatric growth hormone deficiency (PGHD).

“Dr. Duke has extensive experience in clinical development and medical affairs related to the advancement of novel therapeutics for growth disorders. In his recent role, he was instrumental in both the expeditious enrollment of Lumos Pharma’s Phase 2 trials evaluating LUM-201 for moderate PGHD and the timely analysis and release of topline data from these trials,” said Rick Hawkins, Chairman and CEO. “Dr. Duke’s impressive academic tenure at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Children Hospital Los Angeles and his over 12-year presidency at the Human Growth Foundation underscore his ability to engage with an extensive network of endocrinologists and disseminate advanced approaches for treating growth disorders within this community. In his role as Lumos Pharma’s CMO, Dr. Duke is expected to significantly bolster the advancement of our clinical programs.”

“I am honored to assume the role of Chief Medical Officer of Lumos Pharma,” Dr. Pitukcheewanont stated. “I am thrilled with Lumos Pharma’s progress to date in the development of potentially the first oral therapy for moderate PGHD, and I am excited to continue working with Rick and our talented team to advance the company toward our clinical and strategic goals.”

Dr. Pitukcheewanont is a seasoned pediatric endocrinologist with over 25 years of combined clinical expertise and research contributions in the field. He currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, and has been a faculty physician there since 1998. Concurrently, he also serves as the President of the Human Growth Foundation, a global non-profit committed to advancing research, delivering education, and championing support for endocrinologists, healthcare practitioners, as well as individuals and families impacted by growth disorders. Throughout his career, Dr. Pitukcheewanont has been the recipient of numerous research grants and has authored over 70 publications.