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UK shows multi-stakeholder approach tackles diversity
The UK has been seriously tackling the issue of diversity in the senior ranks of British business. The Davies Review, led by the charismatic but challenging Lord Mervyn Davies, pushed UK boards to get 25% of women on the boards of FTSE 100 companies. This triggered concerted action on the part of the nominated companies because they would be publicly measured, and reported.
Board Directors with Frequency
Frequency Therapeutics, based in Cambridge, MA, is a company spearheading the movement to restore hearing by harnessing the regenerative potential of progenitor cells in the body, today announced its Board of Directors. Led by Marc A. Cohen of COBRO Ventures as Chairman, members of the Frequency Board were selected for their industry leadership and wealth of management skills to provide a diverse governance team for the company. The Board Members include Tim Barberich, founder and former CEO and Chairman of Sepracor, Inc. (now known as Sunovion), Marc Kozin, Senior Advisor and former President of L.E.K. Consulting, Robert S. Langer, Sc.D., Frequency Co-founder and the David H. Koch Institute Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and David Lucchino, Frequency Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer.
Frequency Therapeutics was founded to translate the breakthrough work in Progenitor Cell Activation (PCA) by its scientific founders, Robert Langer, Sc.D., and Jeff Karp, Ph.D., at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Medical School, into new treatments, where controlled tissue regeneration with locally delivered drugs could have profound therapeutic potential. The company has licensed foundational patents from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Partners Healthcare. These technologies will be used to advance Frequency’s PCA platform to create disease modifying therapies that activate the body’s dormant abilities to heal, with the lead program focused on small molecules that can reverse chronic noise induced hearing loss.
“Frequency is poised to become a leader in the treatment of chronic hearing loss, a potential $20 billion market with no existing effective therapeutic solutions,” said Marc A. Cohen. “The technologies licensed from MIT and Partners provide a broad platform for Frequency to uncover and activate the regenerative potential of progenitor cells for unprecedented healing benefits in the treatment of hearing loss, eye and skin disorders, gastrointestinal diseases and diabetes.”
“This stellar Board of Directors brings to Frequency a wealth of business acumen and expertise in the biotech and pharmaceutical communities,” said David Lucchino. “We look forward to working with our Board and advisors to grow Frequency into a world-renowned regenerative medicine company.”
PsiOxus Therapeutics Elects Paolo Paoletti as Chairman of the Board
PsiOxus Therapeutics, an immuno-oncology company in Oxford, England, has appointed Paolo Paoletti to Chairman of its Board to replace Michael Moore. Moore will remain on the Board as Deputy Chairman.
Alnylam Elects Chairman and Board Member
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, Mass, has named Michael Bonney as Chairman to replace John Clarke who stepped down after 13 years of service. Clarke will remain on the board as a director of the company. Bonny is the current board member and former CEO of Cubist Pharmaceuticals.
Hans Schikan new Chair at InteRNA and Asceneuron
Hans Schikan is former Chief Executive Officer of Prosensa, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on novel RNA modulating treatments for rare diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Prosensa was listed on NASDAQ (RNA) since June 2013. The company was acquired by BioMarin early 2015 for up to USD 840 million. Before joining Prosensa, Hans worked at Genzyme, including as Vice President for Global Marketing and Strategic Development of Genzyme’s product portfolio for rare genetic diseases. Prior to Genzyme, he worked at Organon, both at corporate level and in country operations which included assignments in Asia and Europe.
Board Succession Requires Refreshing Plan
Author: Karl Simpson, Liftstream
Wilson’s Board Gets a New Chairman
Wilson Therapeutics has announced that Andrew Kay has been appointed as Chairman of its Board of Directors. The company’s previous Chairman, Hugh Rienhoff, M.D. will continue to advise the company as a consultant.
Big-Pharma Defection Continues
In a continuation of a developing trend, two big-pharma executives left their cozy corner offices for the fast and wild biotech world. This year we have already seen a number of big names defect for the biotech world, the reasons for which were covered here. These latest appointments add further evidence to the fact that biotech has regained its form and now has pulling power.
Wendy Yarno elected Chairwomen of Aratana Therapeutics
Aratana Therapeutics, a pet therapeutics company focused on the licensing, development and commercialization of innovative biopharmaceutical products for companion animals, today announced that the Board of Directors has elected Wendy Yarno as Chairman of Aratana’s Board of Directors. She will replace Jay Lichter, Ph.D., who has resigned from the Board.