CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. INFI announced today that it has appointed Samuel Agresta, M.D., M.P.H., as Chief Medical Officer where he will oversee global clinical development and regulatory affairs for the company. Dr. Agresta brings more than 20 years of experience in the practice of academic medicine and oncology drug development, including the recent approvals of two targeted therapies for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

"We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Agresta to the Infinity team as he brings tremendously valuable global development and regulatory experience having led the development and approval of enasidineb (IDHIFA^®) and ivosidenib (TIBSOVO^®), two novel clinical oncology medicines, while at Agios," said Adelene Perkins, Chief Executive Officer and Chair of Infinity Pharmaceuticals. "Under Dr. Agresta's leadership, both medicines received US regulatory approval during the last year, with full approval of ivosidenib granted two weeks ago for patients with relapsed and/or refractory AML based on the results of a single arm, Phase 1 study.  Sam's knowledge and expertise in innovative oncology and precision medicine drug development will be invaluable in advancing IPI-549 for patients."

"This is an exciting time for me to be joining the Infinity team. IPI-549's mechanism of action represents a novel and promising approach to improve upon current immuno-oncology treatments," said Dr. Agresta. "I am very encouraged by the clinical and translational data presented to date and look forward to building on this foundation in the ongoing and future IPI-549 trials, including with our clinical collaborators Bristol-Myers Squibb and Arcus, to demonstrate the potential impact of IPI-549 in immuno-oncology therapy.  We will also work in collaboration with our investigators and regulators to advance IPI-549 with the goal of approval to benefit as many cancer patients as possible."

Dr. Agresta joins Infinity from Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he played a pivotal role in the development of the company's oncology programs, including IDHIFA and TIBSOVO, as Vice President and Head of Clinical Development. IDHIFA and TIBSOVO are both first-in-class, orally available, targeted medicines for the treatment of patients with AML that harbor IDH mutations. Prior to Agios, Dr. Agresta worked on the development of oncology therapeutics at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals and Genentech after spending ten years practicing academic medicine. He began his career at the Moffitt Cancer Center, where he served as Associate Medical Director in the Sarcoma Oncology Unit. Dr. Agresta earned an M.D. from Tulane University School of Medicine as well as an M.P.H. from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

About Infinity
Infinity is an innovative biopharmaceutical company dedicated to advancing novel cancer treatments. Infinity is advancing IPI-549, a potentially transformative immuno-oncology candidate that aims to reprogram tumor-associated macrophages by selectively inhibiting phosphoinositide-3-kinase-gamma (PI3K-gamma). A Phase 1/1b study in approximately 200 patients with advanced solid tumors is ongoing. For more information on Infinity, please refer to Infinity's website at www.infi.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include those regarding the therapeutic potential of PI3K-gamma selective inhibition and IPI-549, alone and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, including Opdivo^®, anticipated contributions of Dr. Agresta to the advancement of IPI-549, and the company's ability to execute on its strategic plans Management's expectations and such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous important factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from the company's current expectations, including the risks described under the caption "Risk Factors" included in Infinity's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 8, 2018, and other filings filed by Infinity with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Infinity expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:
Daniella Funaro, Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212-362-1200 or daniella@sternir.com

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SOURCE Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.