Cidara Therapeutics Announces Promotion of Nicole Davarpanah to Chief Medical Officer and Corrina Pavetto to SVP, Clinical Development

Rhea-AI Summary

Cidara Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CDTX) has announced key leadership promotions effective May 1, 2025. Dr. Nicole Davarpanah has been elevated to Chief Medical Officer (CMO), while Corrina Pavetto has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Clinical Development. These appointments come as Cidara advances its influenza antiviral candidate CD388 through Phase 2b NAVIGATE trial and prepares for Phase 3. Dr. Davarpanah brings over a decade of clinical development experience, including 6 years at Genentech/Roche, and holds both M.D. and J.D. degrees. Pavetto contributes 25+ years of clinical research experience, particularly in infectious disease, with previous experience at BARDA overseeing influenza antiviral and vaccine development programs.

Positive

• Strategic timing of appointments coincides with advancement of CD388 through Phase 2b and preparation for Phase 3 trials
• Dr. Davarpanah brings valuable expertise in treating high-risk and immunocompromised patients, key target populations for CD388
• Pavetto's extensive 25-year background in infectious disease and experience with FDA-approved influenza treatments strengthens the clinical development team

Negative

• None.

SAN DIEGO, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CDTX), a biotechnology company using its proprietary Cloudbreak^® platform to develop drug-Fc conjugate (DFC) therapeutics, today announced that Nicole Davarpanah, M.D., J.D. has been promoted to chief medical officer (CMO), and Corrina Pavetto has been promoted to senior vice president, clinical development, effective May 1, 2025.

“These promotions come at a pivotal time as we continue advancing our influenza antiviral candidate, CD388, through our Phase 2b NAVIGATE trial and plan for Phase 3,” said Jeffrey Stein, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Cidara. “Nicole and Corrina have shown exceptional leadership in the execution of the NAVIGATE Study, the revision of its statistical analysis plan, and the design of the Phase 3 development and regulatory strategy for CD388. Their continued guidance and oversight will be invaluable for the successful development of CD388 as a novel option for the universal prevention of influenza.”  

Nicole Davarpanah is a physician-scientist who brings to Cidara over a decade of clinical development and translational medicine experience. Prior to Cidara, Dr. Davarpanah spent 6 years in rising roles of leadership at Genentech/ Roche, serving most recently as a clinical and translational lead, in which she was responsible for the evaluation and advancement of early-stage molecules through clinical development and FDA approval. “Given Dr. Davarpanah’s depth and breadth of experience in treating high-risk and immunocompromised patients, who will comprise the populations that we are prioritizing for the Phase 3 Development of CD388, her insights on the design and execution of the planned Phase 3 study of CD388 will be increasingly valuable,” continued Dr. Stein.

Dr. Davarpanah is licensed to practice medicine and law and is board-certified in oncology. Prior to joining Industry, she held an academic position at Georgetown University, where in addition to clinical and research responsibilities, she was a national speaker on the intersection of medicine, law, and biotechnology. She earned a B.A. in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University, an M.D. from Boston University, and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Corrina Pavetto has over 25 years of experience in clinical research and regulatory affairs, with expertise in multiple therapeutic areas and a specialized focus on infectious disease. Prior to joining Cidara, Ms. Pavetto supported influenza antiviral and vaccine development at the U.S. Government Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority (BARDA). For over 15 years, she was responsible for oversight of regulatory and clinical development programs, and she was integral to the successful development of products now approved by the FDA for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza.   

About Cidara Therapeutics
Cidara Therapeutics is using its proprietary Cloudbreak^® platform to develop novel drug-Fc conjugates (DFCs) comprising targeted small molecules or peptides coupled to a proprietary human antibody fragment (Fc). Cidara’s lead DFC candidate, CD388, is a long-acting antiviral designed to achieve universal prevention of seasonal and pandemic influenza with a single dose by directly inhibiting viral proliferation. In June 2023, CD388 was granted Fast Track Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Company announced completion of enrollment of its 5,000 patient Phase 2b NAVIGATE trial in December 2024. Additional DFCs have been developed for oncology and in July 2024 Cidara received IND clearance for CBO421 which is intended to target CD73 in solid tumors. Cidara is headquartered in San Diego, California. For more information, please visit www.cidara.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “anticipates,” “expect,” “intends,” “believes,” “may,” “plan” or “will”. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements related to the potential of and future plans for CD388, whether the results Phase 2b NAVIGATE trial will support continued development of CD388, and whether and when we will initiate a Phase 3 trial for CD388. Such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, such as unanticipated delays in or negative results from Cidara’s clinical trials and other risks related to clinical development, delays in action by regulatory authorities, other obstacles on the enrollment of patients or other aspects of CD388 or other DFC development and other risks and uncertainties associated with Cidara’s business in general. These and other risks are identified under the caption “Risk Factors” in Cidara’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 and other filings subsequently made with the SEC. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on management’s assumptions and estimates as of such date. Cidara does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.

INVESTOR CONTACT:
Brian Ritchie
LifeSci Advisors
(212) 915-2578
britchie@lifesciadvisors.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
Michael Fitzhugh
LifeSci Communications
(628) 234-3889
mfitzhugh@lifescicomms.com

FAQ

Who is the new Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Cidara Therapeutics (CDTX)?

Dr. Nicole Davarpanah has been promoted to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Cidara Therapeutics, effective May 1, 2025.

What is Cidara Therapeutics' (CDTX) current development status for CD388?

Cidara is currently advancing CD388, their influenza antiviral candidate, through Phase 2b NAVIGATE trial and planning for Phase 3 development.

What is Corrina Pavetto's new role at Cidara Therapeutics (CDTX)?

Corrina Pavetto has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at Cidara Therapeutics, effective May 1, 2025.

What is Dr. Nicole Davarpanah's background and experience before joining Cidara (CDTX)?

Dr. Davarpanah spent 6 years at Genentech/Roche, is licensed to practice medicine and law, board-certified in oncology, and previously held an academic position at Georgetown University.

What is Corrina Pavetto's previous experience in influenza treatment development?

Pavetto previously worked at BARDA, where she oversaw influenza antiviral and vaccine development programs for over 15 years, contributing to FDA-approved products for influenza prophylaxis and treatment.