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Endocrine Society member Will Charton, MD, MAS, has been appointed chief medical office at Spruce Biosciences, Inc., a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel therapies for rare endocrine disorders with significant unmet medical need.
Charlton, a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist with over 15 years of clinical research experience in industry and academia, will lead the company’s clinical development and global drug development strategy.
“We are pleased to welcome Will as our chief medical officer, and we look forward to his leadership and guidance as we continue to advance our pipeline of treatments for patients with rare endocrine disorders,” said Javier Szwarcberg, MD, MPH, Spruce Biosciences CEO and Endocrine Society member. “With his extensive background in late-stage, rare disease drug development, paired with his experience as a board-certified endocrinologist, we are confident that Will’s expertise will be a strong asset to Spruce as we progress tildacerfont through clinical development for adults and children with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia and women with polycystic ovary syndrome.”
Charlton is a physician-scientist with nearly two decades of experience as a clinician and industry executive, building successful programs across clinical development, medical affairs and drug safety. He joins Spruce from 89bio, Inc., where he served as vice president, Clinical Development. Prior to 89bio, he was senior medical director, Clinical Development at Ascendis Pharma. Prior to Ascendis, Charlton served as executive medical director, Clinical Development, Liver Therapeutic Area at Allergan. Prior to his career in industry, Charlton spent over a decade in clinical practice as a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist. He earned a medical degree from the University of Southern California and completed his pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and his fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco.
“It is a privilege to be joining Spruce at such an important time in the company’s growth,” Charlton says. “Throughout my career as an endocrinologist and scientist, I have seen first-hand the unmet medical need and challenges those patients with rare endocrine disorders face. With tildacerfont advancing through global clinical development for multiple endocrine disorders, including adult and pediatric classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Spruce is poised to improve the lives of people who have not benefited from a new treatment option in approximately 50 years. As we enter our next phase of growth, I look forward to guiding Spruce’s progress in the clinic and delivering value to patients and stakeholders.”