WAYNE, PA — Palvella Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: PVLA) appointed pediatric dermatologist James R. Treat as chief medical officer effective Dec. 21, putting a longtime clinical collaborator in charge of medical strategy as the company moves QTORIN rapamycin toward potential approval and commercialization for microcystic lymphatic malformations.
Treat will lead Palvella’s medical organization and oversee strategy across clinical development, medical affairs and scientific engagement. The clinical-stage biotechnology company is developing treatments for serious rare skin diseases and vascular anomalies that it says lack FDA-approved therapies.
The appointment brings an investigator involved in QTORIN’s clinical development directly into Palvella’s management. Treat served as a site investigator at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for the Phase 3 SELVA and Phase 2 studies of QTORIN rapamycin in microcystic lymphatic malformations.
He has also provided clinical input to Palvella’s development programs involving cutaneous venous malformations, clinically significant angiokeratomas and disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis, or DSAP.
“As we move QTORIN rapamycin toward potential approval and commercialization for microcystic lymphatic malformations and advance our broader rare disease pipeline, we look forward to continuing our close collaboration with Dr. Treat,” founder and Chief Executive Officer Wes Kaupinen said.
Treat most recently served as a pediatric dermatologist and associate program director of the Pediatric Dermatology Fellowship Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He previously directed the fellowship program for more than 12 years and is a professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.
At CHOP, Treat was the dermatology representative on the Comprehensive Vascular Anomalies Program’s multidisciplinary team, treating children with conditions including microcystic lymphatic malformations, venous malformations and angiokeratomas. He is board-certified in dermatology and pediatric dermatology.
“Through my work with Palvella, I have seen firsthand the potential of the QTORIN platform for patients with rare skin diseases,” Treat said. “The opportunity to bring novel therapies designed to address the underlying biology of these diseases to patients, while helping build a broader pipeline of innovative first-in-disease therapies is incredibly meaningful to me.”
Treat’s research has included pediatric dermatology, vascular anomalies, lymphatic malformations and PIK3CA-driven disease. He is an author of the 13th and 14th editions of “Andrews’ Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology” and has delivered more than 100 invited lectures.
His professional recognition includes the CHOP Master Clinician Award in 2013 and election to Penn Medicine’s Academy of Master Clinicians in 2020. He has also received a Presidential Citation Award from the American Academy of Dermatology and is an elected member of the American Dermatological Association.
Treat currently serves as vice president of education and career development for the Society for Pediatric Dermatology. His teaching honors include the University of Pennsylvania’s Provost’s Award for Teaching Excellence and Blockley-Osler Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching, as well as recognition as the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance’s 2023 Mentor of the Year.
Treat earned his bachelor’s and medical degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his dermatology residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, serving as chief resident during his final year, followed by a pediatric dermatology fellowship at CHOP.
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