An established New Jersey-based executive in the biopharmaceutical sphere, Loretta Itri, MD, has facilitated the development of multiple cancer drugs. An avid theatergoer, Dr. Loretta Itri recently took in a unique Broadway production of King Lear starring English actress Glenda Jackson. Having earned two Oscars across a storied acting career, Ms. Jackson held an elected seat in Parliament before being enticed back into acting on the London stage in 2016 at age 80. Despite an absence of two decades from thespian activities, she earned plaudits for her take on Shakespeare’s tragic king in an Old Vic performance directed by Deborah Warner. Instead of crossing the Atlantic with the production as expected, Ms. Jackson next earned a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of an “angry old woman” in Three Tall Women by Edward Albee. The King Lear production currently running on Broadway has a new supporting cast and features the often-subversive vision of director Sam Gold, who previously cast Daniel Craig in Othello.
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While operating in an executive capacity at The Medicines Company, Loretta Itri, MD, informed the research and development of novel therapeutics. Traveling regularly on business, Dr. Loretta Itri visited San Diego, California, and Zurich, Switzerland, frequently.
One of the attractions of Switzerland’s capital city is its compact, pedestrian friendly Old Town, which can be comfortably covered in a couple of hours on foot in a tour that takes in a number of major attractions. An ideal starting point, the Paradeplatz tram station provides easy access to Bahnhofstrasse, which features banks and high-end boutiques, including the storefronts of renowned watchmakers. Turning onto colorful, winding side streets presents a rewarding detour, with the old main thoroughfare Rennweg dotted with quaint structures dating back as far as the Middle Ages. Crossing the Limmat River after the Bahnhofplatz (Zurich’s main train station) leads to the Central Polybahn funicular, which provides a short, scenic ride uphill to a popular viewpoint overlooking the city. Veering onto Niederdorfstrasse presents a welcome antidote to high-end shopping, as it features numerous reasonable deli-style and takeaway kebab restaurants. A popular site on the river is the historic Rathaus, or Zurich Town Hall, which is open to the public and in which the business of the city is still conducted. Loretta Itri, MD, serves as the executive vice president of global health sciences and regulatory affairs for The Medicines Company in Parsippany, New Jersey. Responsible for overseeing research and development, pharmacovigilance, and regulatory affairs, Loretta Itri, MD, follows advances in cancer research, including a new therapy for cancer-associated anemia. Recent research has demonstrated that erythropoietin (EPO) therapy may be a potentially effective treatment for cancer-associated malignant anemia because it has shown the ability to improve blood parameters in studied patient populations. Cancer-associated malignant anemia can be triggered by a variety of causes, including bleeding, hemolysis, or poor nutrition. It also can occur as a side-effect of radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment, or from a drop in red blood cell production due to a deficiency of naturally-occurring EPO. A meta-analysis of six medical research studies of patients with cancer-associated anemia showed that EPO therapy improved hemoglobin levels and reduced the need for transfusions. EPO treatments may prove especially helpful in treating patients with colorectal cancer, who are prone to cancer-associated anemia due to reduced iron absorption in the colon and intestines. Although iron supplementation is generally prescribed for these patients, alone, it does not stimulate sufficient natural EPO release in the body to address low hemoglobin levels. Since 2012, Dr. Loretta Itri has served as the Executive Vice President of Global Health Sciences and Regulatory Affairs at a pharmaceutical company in New Jersey. Widely published in her field, Dr. Itri is the author of numerous papers on a wide range of topics in peer-reviewed journals. In particular, Loretta Itri, MD, has written on the topic of erythropoietin. Erythropoietin is a hormone made mainly by the kidneys in human beings. The hormone's primary function is to help produce red blood cells (erythrocytes), which are the main mechanism of transporting oxygen to the organs and tissues from the lungs. Dr. Itri and her co-authors demonstrated erythropoietin’s potential for safeguarding the human central nervous system against traumatic brain injury. The article detailed the encouraging results of a test in which the recombinant form of the hormone was injected directly into the ischemic (oxygen-deprived) brains of rodents. The premise of Dr. Itri's co-authored paper has been supported by a number of other studies since its publication. An experienced pharmaceutical professional, Loretta Itri serves as the Executive Vice President of Global Health Sciences and Regulatory Affairs at The Medicines Company. A fan of musicals, Loretta Itri has enjoyed attending Broadway productions such as Bright Star. Since holding its world premiere at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, Bright Star has taken Broadway by storm. Set in mid-1940s North Carolina, the show follows the lives and affairs of Asheville Southern Journal editor Alice Murphy and World War II veteran Billy Cane. Tony-winning director Walter Bobbie brings these stories to life amidst a soundtrack of bluegrass-inspired music. The group of media and writing professionals from the New York Outer Critics Circle recently celebrated the 2015-16 Broadway season during its annual awards. Among a list of nominees that included Waitress, Tuck Everlasting, and American Psycho, Bright Star won the title of Best New Broadway Musical. The show also earned recognition for its score, triumphing in the Outstanding New Score category for Broadway or off-Broadway productions. In addition to its wins, Bright Star was nominated in several other categories, including Outstanding Director and Outstanding Choreographer. Parsippany, New Jersey-based Loretta Itri has built a successful career as an executive at Hoffmann-La Roche, Ortho Biotech, and other pharmaceutical companies. In her current role as the Executive Vice President of Global Health Sciences and Regulatory Affairs at The Medicines Company, Loretta Itri oversees such clinical development divisions as biostatistics. A specialized form of statistics, biostatistics concerns itself with the interpretation of complicated scientific data. Biostatisticians focus on data related to, among other disciplines, public health, clinical medicine, and biology. Biostatistics often involves the careful analysis of data arising from studies involving human subjects. With the potential for a wide variety of results, biostatisticians rely on statistics to navigate and transform the data from such studies into usable information. This can help them uncover the origin of diseases and otherwise overcome various medical challenges. However, biostatistics extends beyond data analysis. By collaborating with other health care professionals, biostatisticians can advance scientific inquiry by playing an instrumental role in the design of clinical trials and other medical experiments. Dr.Loretta Itri has a wealth of experience in clinical development, pharmaceuticals, biostatistics, regulatory affairs, and clinical data management. Her experience includes current work as the Executive Vice President for Global Health Sciences and Regulatory Affairs at the Medicines Company and past experience as a Senior Vice President of Worldwide Clinical Affairs at Ortho Biotech, Inc. and the R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute. In addition to her professional work, Loretta Itri enjoys several recreational activities and will soon travel to Mallorca in Spain. Located in Spain’s Balearic Islands, Mallorca includes over 500 kilometers of gorgeous coastline. Additionally, over 40% of the island is protected, so visitors are able to enjoy much of the region’s natural beauty. Known for its beaches, Mallorca also boasts many other tourist attractions including golf courses, water sports, entertainment, hiking trails and biking routes. The island is easily accessible via the nearby airport and regular ferry service. With a vibrant cultural scene and nightlife, Mallorca’s capital, Palma de Mallorca, is one of the most popular attractions and is a must-see for visitors to the island. Executive vice president of global health sciences and regulatory affairs at the Medicines Company, Loretta Itri handles worldwide and clinical development oversight. In her free time, Loretta Itri is an avid theater-goer and subscribes to such New York-based companies as the Roundabout Theatre Company. As a part of its mission to share stories from some of the finest theatre artists, the Roundabout Theatre Company maintains its New Play Initiative, a project that seeks to bring about new works and highlight gifted playwrights. The Initiative stemmed from the company’s development into a leading Broadway producer of contemporary and classic revivals in 1995. As Roundabout grew in size and popularity, so did its commitment to producing new plays and, eventually, the New Play Initiative was established. Taking a three-step approach to bringing new plays into the spotlight, the New Play Initiative commissions new works, conducts workshops and readings, and produces those new works as mainstage productions and through the Roundabout Underground program. Over the past two decades, the Initiative has produced dozens of new works, along with workshops for more than 170 works, and 36 playwright commissions. Dr. Loretta Itri enjoys the opportunity to take a little time away from her responsibilities as the Executive Vice President of Global Health Sciences and Regulatory Affairs at The Medicines Company in order to travel. Recently, Dr. Loretta Itri visited Peru, a country that is home to some sites that all visitors should see.
1. Lima: The nation’s capital and its largest city, Lima is a Peruvian center of culture. Featuring ornate architecture, authentic restaurants, and unique shopping opportunities, this coastal metropolis is also known as “La Perla Del Pacifico,” or the Pearl of the Pacific. 2. Iquitos: Located in Peru’s northern region, Iquitos is inaccessible by road, and can only be reached by plane or boat. Founded in the Amazon Basin during the 17th century, the city is surrounded by jungle that can be explored via tours provided by local companies. 3. Machu Picchu: This ancient city remains one of archaeology’s most important sites since its discovery more than 100 years ago. A stone citadel with more than 3,000 steps that connect many levels, it is believed to have been constructed by the Incas between the 15th and 16th centuries. For fitness-minded travelers, a strenuous four-day hike on the Inca Trail will take them on a scenic journey straight to the ancient monument. |
AuthorAs chief medical officer and president of pharmaceutical development at a public biotech company, Dr. Loretta Itri oversaw the worldwide development of a number of important drugs, including Tesetaxel, a novel oral taxane used in the treatment of breast, gastric, and prostate cancer. Archives
October 2019
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