Nucleome Therapeutics appoints Dr John
Davis as Non-Executive Director of the Board and establishes
Scientific Advisory Board of world-leading experts
John Davis brings direct clinical expertise as
Nucleome advances from translational science to development of
medicines
Newly founded SAB comprises experts across dark
genome genetics and drug discovery
Oxford, UK, 25 April 2024 –
Nucleome Therapeutics (‘Nucleome’ or ‘the Company’), a
biotechnology company decoding the dark matter of the human genome
for translational medicine, today announces the appointment of John
Davis, MD, MPH, MS as a Non-Executive Director of the Board, and
the foundation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), comprised of
world-renowned experts across dark genome genetics and drug
discovery.
New Non-Executive Director of the Board,
John Davis MD, MPH, MS, brings extensive and
varied experience as a physician-scientist, drug developer and
biotechnology executive. John serves on the Board of Sonoma
Biotherapeutics and is Chair of its Science Committee. He was
previously Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical
Officer at Magenta Therapeutics, where he was pivotal in
progressing the company towards an IPO and emergence to the
clinical stage. Prior roles include Senior Vice President and Head
of Early Clinical Development at Pfizer where he oversaw multiple
functional groups across global sites. Other roles include Vice
President and Global Therapeutic Area Head of Immunology at Baxalta
(acquired by Shire in 2016) and Head of the Inflammation and
Cardiovascular/Metabolism Group in the Early Clinical Development
Group at Genentech.
Members of the newly formed SAB: Gerd A.
Blobel MD, PhD, Craig Fox, PhD,
Steve Holmes, PhD, Iain Kilty,
PhD, Christopher Miller, and PhD, Sonia
Quaratino, MD, PhD, will advise Nucleome on its strategic
direction as it works towards advancing drug targets discovered
through dark genome genetics, into pre-clinical and ultimately
clinical development. The SAB is chaired by Prof. Jim Hughes,
Scientific Founder and Non-Executive Director of Nucleome
Therapeutics.
Dr Russell Greig, Non-Executive Chair of
the Nucleome’s Board, said: “We are delighted to have
appointed such esteemed experts to the Nucleome team. Their
collective knowledge and expertise will be invaluable and will help
ensure Nucleome continues to utilise and develop its drug discovery
platform to its full potential, particularly as we progress towards
the preclinical, and ultimately, clinical stages of Nucleome’s
growth.”
Nucleome’s Scientific Advisory Board
(SAB):
Gerd A. Blobel MD, PhD, is the
co-director of the Epigenetics Institute at the University of
Pennsylvania and co-director of the Spatial and Functional Genomics
Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He was elected to
the American Society for Clinical Investigation (2004) and the
Association of American Physicians (2008). With extensive in gene
regulation and clinical experience, Gerd's expertise aligns
seamlessly with Nucleome’s innovative endeavors.
Gerd earned his MD degree summa cum laude from
the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and a PhD from Rockefeller
University in New York. He carried out his postdoctoral work at
Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Craig Fox, PhD, is currently
Operating Partner in Lifesciences at Oxford Science Enterprises,
having joined from C4X Discovery where he was Chief Scientific
Officer and an Executive Board Member for more than six years,
guiding its transition from a technology-based company to a
therapeutics business. Craig has also worked at a number of
biotechnology companies supporting multiple financings, strategic
collaborations and licensing deals with pharma.
Craig holds a PhD in Respiratory Medicine from
Birmingham University and a first-class Biochemistry degree from
the University of Surrey. Craig’s background and expertise in drug
discovery, genetics and immunology will prove important for
advising cutting-edge research and development at Nucleome.
Steve Holmes, PhD, has over 35
years’ experience of working in both biotech and large pharma. He
was previously CEO at Capella Bioscience, and prior to that Senior
Director at Kymab and Domantis. This follows a career in academia
including as Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine
where he received three NIH grants before moving to industry.
Steve’s multifaceted background, spanning academia, industry and
leadership roles, positions him as a key contributor to Nucleome’s
Scientific Advisory Board.
Steve graduated with a first-class honours in
Physiology and Chemistry from the University of Sheffield and then
completed a PhD at the University of Sheffield
Iain Kilty, PhD, is CSO at
Sitryx Therapeutics and a venture partner at SV Health Investors.
He has 25 years’ global biopharmaceutical industry experience,
including a 22-year tenure at Pfizer, where he ultimately served as
Vice President Preclinical Sciences in the Inflammation and
Immunology Research Unit. While at Pfizer, Iain worked across the
drug discovery paradigm, and will provide invaluable insights to
the development of Nucleome’s strategic direction. He later joined
Atlas Venture in 2018 where he was the Chief Scientific Officer of
Quench Bio, responsible for the company’s scientific strategy and
execution, whilst also working as an Entrepreneur in Residence
across the Atlas portfolio.
Iain graduated with a BA and MA Cantab in
Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge before completing his
PhD at the University of Liverpool, UK.
Christopher Miller, PhD, is an
advisor to companies developing technologies related to functional
genomics, target identification, target validation and early drug
discovery. Christopher does this through Genomics Innovation
Consulting LLC, which he created in February 2023. Previously, he
spent 23 years as an R&D scientist, team leader and executive
in biotech and pharma. Christopher held leadership roles Genetic
Institute, Wyeth (pre-Pfizer acquisition), Bristol-Myers Squibb,
AbbVie and GlaxoSmithKline, most recently as Vice President of
Functional Genomics at GSK.
Christopher graduated with a PhD in Pharmacology
from Michigan State University.
Sonia Quaratino, MD, PhD, is an
R&D executive with over 25 years’ experience, having worked in
academia, global large pharma and biotech. Currently she is EVP and
Chief Medical Officer at Innate Pharma (INNTY:US), prior to which
she was the first CMO at Georgiamune Inc, which she continues to
support as Clinical Advisor. Sonia was also the CMO at Kymab until
its acquisition by Sanofi in 2021, Global Program Lead in Oncology
at Novartis in Basel, and Senior Medical Director Oncology and
Advisor in Immunology at Merck Serono, Germany. Sonia’s clinical
and commercial experience, together with her scientific and
translational expertise, is highly relevant as Nucleome progresses
drug targets towards the preclinical stage.
Sonia was previously Professor of Immunology at
the University of Southampton (UK), and serves as director/board
member at Engitix, and as advisor for Pureos Bioventures,
Giorgiamune Inc and Anaveon AG.
Sonia received her MD and a PhD in Hematology
and Oncology from the University of Palermo, Italy, and a PhD in
Immunology from Imperial College London.
– Ends –
About Nucleome Therapeutics
Nucleome Therapeutics is decoding the dark matter of the human
genome to uncover novel ways to treat disease. The dark genome
holds more than 90% of disease-linked genetic variants whose value
remains untapped, representing a significant opportunity for drug
discovery and development. The Company has the unique ability to
link these variants to gene function and precisely map disease
pathways. Nucleome’s cell type-specific platform creates high
resolution 3D genome structure maps and enables variant functional
validation at scale in primary cell types, enabling the discovery
and development of novel, better and safer drugs. The initial focus
of the Company is on lymphocytes and related autoimmune disease.
Nucleome’s ambition is to build a robust pipeline of drug assets,
with corresponding biomarkers. Nucleome Therapeutics was founded by
leading experts in gene regulation from the University of Oxford.
For more information, please visit www.nucleome.com.
For more information, please
contact:
ICR ConsiliumSukaina Virji/Evi
Useh/Jack BissettNucleome@consilium-comms.com