ITF Therapeutics LLC, the U.S. affiliate of Italfarmaco, today announced the appointment of Erica L. Monaco, CPA, as chief operating officer. Bringing nearly two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical and financial sectors, Erica will oversee a broad range of strategic and operational functions.
“Since the establishment of ITF Therapeutics in January 2024, we have worked diligently to build a highly skilled and mission-driven team of functional experts who share a passion for serving rare disease communities. We are very pleased to welcome Erica to ITF Therapeutics during this exciting time following the U.S. FDA approval and successful commercial launch of DUVYZAT™ (givinostat) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD),” said Matt Trudeau, President, ITF Therapeutics. “Erica’s deep financial and operational experience equips her to play a critical leadership role in ensuring we operate efficiently, effectively, and compliantly as we work to deliver on our commitments to the rare disease communities that we serve.”
Erica most recently served as chief operating officer at Medicus Pharma Ltd. Prior to joining Medicus Pharma, she held several leadership positions at Biofrontera Inc., including chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and chief operating officer. During her tenure, Erica helped secure multiple rounds of funding to support company growth, led the company through a successful IPO, and created the U.S. infrastructure to enable the commercial launch of a novel therapy for the treatment of actinic keratosis skin lesions. She also held a senior position at SUN Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where she oversaw reporting and accounting for two of the company’s subsidiaries. Erica started her career in public accounting, tax consulting, and financial planning at Deloitte and the WGBH Educational Foundation. She holds a master’s degree and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is also a licensed CPA in Massachusetts.
“I am thrilled to join ITF Therapeutics at this pivotal time for the company. It is an honor to work with an amazing team of dedicated operations professionals to ensure we deliver on today’s operational needs and that we are positioned for growth and even greater impact in the years ahead,” said Erica L. Monaco, Chief Operating Officer, ITF Therapeutics.
About DUVYZAT™ (givinostat)
DUVYZAT is a U.S. FDA-approved histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients six years of age and older with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) that was discovered through the research and development efforts of Italfarmaco in collaboration with Telethon and Duchenne Parent Project (Italy). HDACs are enzymes located in the body’s cells that play a key role in maintaining and repairing muscles. In DMD, the HDAC enzymes become overactive, leading to chronic muscle inflammation, decreased muscle repair, and replacement of muscle with fat and scar tissue. DUVYZAT inhibits HDAC overactivity and is thought to help reduce inflammation, increase the body’s ability to repair muscles, and slow muscle loss. For more information visit www.DUVYZAT.com.
About ITF Therapeutics LLC
ITF Therapeutics was launched in January 2024 as the U.S. affiliate of Italfarmaco focused on the development and commercialization of products to treat rare diseases. Building on a legacy grounded in collaboration and innovation, ITF Therapeutics strives to partner with leaders from the patient advocacy and treatment communities to ensure that our programs reflect and support their unique needs and goals. The establishment of ITF Therapeutics reflects Italfarmaco’s goal to build a world-class team of experts who share a passion to make a positive impact for rare disease communities. For more information visit www.itftherapeutics.com.
About Italfarmaco
Founded in 1938 in Milan, Italy, Italfarmaco is a private global pharmaceutical company that has led the successful development and approval of many pharmaceutical products around the world. The Italfarmaco group has operations in more than 90 countries through directly controlled or affiliated companies. The company is a leader in pharmaceutical research, product development, production, and commercialization with proven success in many therapeutic areas including immuno-oncology, gynecology, neurology, cardiovascular disease, and rare diseases. Italfarmaco’s rare disease unit includes programs in Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Becker muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and polycythemia vera. For more information visit www.italfarmaco.com.
