Bio-Light has announced that Dr. Yaffa Beck has been named CEO of its portfolio company Obecure.

Dr. Beck is one of the senior figures in the Israeli biotechnology scene, specializing in pharmaceutical development and management of biotechnology companies for over 23 years. In her previous position, she managed Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics Inc., a publicly traded development stage company, developing cellular therapy for Parkinson's disease. In addition to serving as CEO of the American company, Beck managed its subsidiary's Israeli research and development operations. Previously, Beck managed the company Colgard which developed a cancer medication, and was one of the founders of D-Pharm, which develps new pharmaceuticals in the field of neurology.

In addition, she has provided strategic services, as consultant and director to various start-up biotechnology companies.

“Obecure has been transformed from a company that was developing just one product in to a company specializing in metabolism. It has several products in the pipeline and intends to widen its operation,” said Bio-Light CEO Ami Eyal. “In view of this, we need someone with experience and talent in the field of development who will lead the activities. I believe that Dr. Beck's management will allow Obecure to realize its potential and will allow it to develop as a company.

Obecure is in the process of development of a treatment for obesity. The drug is intended to address suppression of appetite in those who suffer from obesity, as well as reduce weight gain as a side effect of certain anti-psychotic drugs and suppress the need for fatty food in those who suffer from elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Obecure is currently preparing to apply to the FDA in order to receive approval to begin clinical trials, after it received permission from the FDA to move directly to Phase II clinical trials, without carrying out Phase I trials. The company also intends to begin clinical trials of its anti-obesity treatment among schizophrenia patients.

Recently, Obecure announced that it had identified an element of the drug it is developing – a metabolite – which suppresses appetite at a rate twice that of its original compound. Obecure has filed a patent request protecting that metabolite and is preparing to begin pre-clinical trials with this active metabolite.