| Name | Title | Contact Details |
|---|---|---|
Mark Plavsic |
Chief Technology Officer | Profile |
Mark Plavsic |
Chief Technology Officer | Profile |
Yumanity Therapeutics is transforming drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases caused by protein misfolding. Despite the fact that an estimated 50 million people worldwide suffer from diseases affecting the brain and central nervous system, there are no approved disease-modifying therapies or cures. Yumanity is working to identify and develop new, disease-modifying therapies that address several illnesses with critical unmet medical needs, including Alzheimer`s disease, Parkinson`s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The company`s approach concentrates on correcting the cellular pathologies driven by misfolded proteins, the altered biology or phenotypes driving these diseases. Yumanity Therapeutics was founded in December 2014 by Susan Lindquist, Ph.D., award-winning protein folding expert, and Tony Coles, M.D., a renowned biotech industry leader. The company`s proprietary platforms have already identified one potential new target for treating Parkinson`s disease, and Yumanity is actively advancing its new chemical lead series for this condition, as well as identifying additional compounds for Alzheimer`s disease and ALS. Targeting the underlying protein pathology of neurodegenerative diseases allows the company to discover therapies that may modify the root cause of these rather than only addressing their symptoms.
Homology is based on groundbreaking science that harnesses the naturally occurring process of homologous recombination. This non-nuclease-based approach offers clear advantages in its precision, efficiency and on-target in vivo editing of genetic mutations. Homology obtained an exclusive worldwide license to this technology platform, which is based on the pioneering research of Saswati Chatterjee, Ph.D., Professor of Virology at the Beckman Research Institute at the City of Hope in California, member of the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) to the Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH) and former charter member of the Therapeutic Approaches to Genetic Diseases Study Section of the NIH. Dr. Chatterjee and her team led the first adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated gene transfer studies into human hematopoietic stem cells and subsequently identified and isolated a series of naturally-occurring AAVs from human CD34+ cells.
Bamboo was formed to advance the work of Dr. Richard Jude Samulski, the Director of the Gene Therapy Center at the University of North Carolina (UNC), from the laboratory into human clinical trials where it could meet the requirements for drug approval. Dr. Samulski is a pioneer in the field of gene therapy. Over thirty (30) years ago, Dr. Samulski was the first person to realize the potential to use the adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a vehicle to replace a defective gene with a healthy gene. Since that time, he has re-engineered the naturally occurring virus to target delivery to certain tissues, de-target other tissues, and improve its safety. This has resulted in over twenty (20) patents related to the use of AAV for therapeutic uses. Dr. Samulski continues to lead innovation in the field of vector optimization and AAV re-engineering.
PharmaEssentia Corporation is a rapidly growing biopharmaceutical innovator. We are leveraging deep expertise and proven scientific principles to deliver effective new biologics for challenging diseases in the areas of hematology and oncology, with one product approved in The United States and a diversifying pipeline. We believe in the potential to improve both health and quality of life for patients with limited options today through the combination of rigorous research and innovative thinking.
Alexion is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and delivering life-transforming therapies for patients with devastating and rare diseases. Our shared purpose to serve patients in need drives us to find answers, change the world, and create a legacy. Alexion`s three highly innovative therapies treat patients with four severe and ultra-rare diseases, and we are committed to developing additional therapies that have the potential to transform patients` lives. Today, Alexion is advancing the most robust rare disease pipeline in the biotech industry, which, in addition to our complement and metabolic clinical programs, includes more than 30 diverse preclinical programs across a range of therapeutic modalities. Alexion has more than 3,000 employees serving patients in 50 countries. Our global headquarters and research operations are based in New Haven, Connecticut and our EMEA headquarters are in Zürich, Switzerland. We also have global supply chain and operations headquarters in Ireland, manufacturing facilities in the United States, and local and regional operations in countries around the world. Alexion was ranked number 5 by Science magazine in its Top Employer Survey and has also been ranked as one of the top companies on the Forbes "World`s Most Innovative Companies" list every year since 2012.