SAN DIEGO, Jan. 09, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Turning Point Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: TPTX), a precision oncology company developing next-generation therapies that target genetic drivers of cancer, today announced that Dr. Jean Cui will step down as the company’s chief scientific officer for family reasons on Jan. 31. Dr. Cui will serve as a consultant and support the company during a transition period until June 30, 2020. She will remain on the company’s board of directors through her current term, which expires at the company’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.

“We are so grateful to Jean for all she has done as co-founder of the company, and we respect her decision to now prioritize her family’s needs,” said Dr. Athena Countouriotis, president and chief executive officer. “During the past six years, Jean has dedicated herself to building a pipeline of kinase inhibitors with the potential to transform the lives of patients. We are thankful for all she has contributed and proud to carry forward her vision. I will continue to work closely with Jean during this transition period.”

Dr. Cui co-founded the company in 2013 to design a platform for the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) that have the potential to be best-in-class and also overcome resistant mutations emerging following treatment with conventional TKIs. Since then, the company has established a pipeline of three clinical assets in four ongoing clinical studies, including the TRIDENT-1 registrational study of lead drug candidate, repotrectinib.

“With an experienced scientific and development team in place and the advancement of the pipeline programs in their development, the timing is now right for me to step down and focus on priorities for myself and my family,” said Dr. Cui. “I have great confidence in the team led by Athena and look forward to watching the company as it works towards achieving its milestones. It has been a privilege to start the company and I am so proud of what we have built, and all we have accomplished.”

About Turning Point Therapeutics Inc.Turning Point Therapeutics is a clinical-stage precision oncology company with a pipeline of internally discovered investigational drugs designed to address key limitations of existing cancer therapies. The company’s lead program, repotrectinib, is a next-generation kinase inhibitor targeting genetic drivers of non-small cell lung cancer and advanced solid tumors. Repotrectinib, which is currently being studied in a registrational Phase 2 study in adults and a Phase 1/2 study in pediatric patients, has shown antitumor activity and durable responses among kinase inhibitor treatment-naïve and pre-treated patients. The company’s pipeline of drug candidates also includes TPX-0022, targeting MET, CSF1R and SRC, which is currently being studied in a Phase 1 trial of patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors harboring genetic alterations inMET; and TPX-0046, targeting RET and SRC, which is currently being studied in a Phase 1/2 trial of patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors harboring genetic alterations inRET. Turning Point’s kinase inhibitors are designed to bind to their targets with greater precision and affinity than existing therapies, with a novel, compact structure that has demonstrated an ability to potentially overcome treatment resistance common with other kinase inhibitors. The company is driven to develop therapies that mark a turning point for patients in their cancer treatment. For more information, visitwww.tptherapeutics.com.

Forward Looking StatementsStatements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and include statements regarding the potential of the company’s TKIs to be best in class. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “plans”, “will”, “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “goal,” “potential” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon Turning Point Therapeutics’ current expectations and involve assumptions that may never materialize or may prove to be incorrect. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with Turning Point Therapeutics’ business in general, and the other risks described in Turning Point Therapeutics’ filings with the SEC. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Turning Point Therapeutics undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

Contact: Jim Mazzolajim.mazzola@tptherapeutics.com858-342-8272