A decentralized clinical trials model is especially important for patients with rare, genetic, or complex diseases. Learn how this model increases access to trials, bringing new therapies to rare disease patients faster. Clinical drug development is moving away from traditional approaches that rely on rare disease patients to travel long distances to clinical sites and … Continue reading “Decentralized Trials: Reshaping the Rare Disease Landscape”
Sanofi, Pfizer & Bristol Drugs Among the 12 Approvals to Look Out for in Q4
The end of the year should see a flurry of new products reaching the market to break new commercial ground or shake up their respective therapeutic areas. Here, Scrip takes a look at 12 of the more interesting approvals expected in the coming months, with the help of analysts at Biomedtracker. Supernus Pharmaceuticals’ SPN-812 Indication: … Continue reading “Sanofi, Pfizer & Bristol Drugs Among the 12 Approvals to Look Out for in Q4”
Vertex Stops Test of Rare Disease Drug, Dimming Pipeline Prospects
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is halting work on an experimental drug for a rare protein deficiency after safety problems were reported in Phase 2 testing. The study was evaluating the small molecule, VX-814, as a treatment for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which can lead to liver and lung problems. After the markets closed Wednesday, Vertex (NASDAQ: [[ticker:VRTX]]) disclosed … Continue reading “Vertex Stops Test of Rare Disease Drug, Dimming Pipeline Prospects”
Codiak Bio’s IPO Brings In $82M as Exosome Clinical Trials Begin
Codiak BioSciences now has $82.5 million to fund clinical tests of a new class of medicines based on exosomes, tiny bubbles formed by cells that the company harnesses to carry therapeutic cargo. Late Tuesday, Codiak priced its offering of 5.5 million shares at $15 apiece, the midpoint of its projected $14 to $16 per share … Continue reading “Codiak Bio’s IPO Brings In $82M as Exosome Clinical Trials Begin”
Roche Enlists Dyno to Bring AI to Next-Generation Liver, CNS Gene Therapies
Roche made a splash with its acquisition of Spark Therapeutics, whose Luxturna, a gene therapy for an inherited form of vision loss, was the first such therapy to win FDA approval. Now the Swiss pharmaceutical giant is looking to bolster its capabilities in liver and central nervous system (CNS) disorder gene therapies and it’s turning … Continue reading “Roche Enlists Dyno to Bring AI to Next-Generation Liver, CNS Gene Therapies”
Despite Phase 2 Failure, Gossamer Bio Sees a Path for Drug in Asthma
Gossamer Bio’s lead drug, an experimental treatment for asthma and allergies, has failed in two mid-stage clinical trials but the biotech sees enough in the data to pursue further development in a severe form of asthma and it wants to talk with regulators about advancing the compound to a larger Phase 3 study. The Gossamer … Continue reading “Despite Phase 2 Failure, Gossamer Bio Sees a Path for Drug in Asthma”
Dewpoint Therapeutics Taps Ex-Sanofi Executive Ameet Nathwani as CEO
Ameet Nathwani has been appointed CEO of Dewpoint Therapeutics. He is also joining the Boston company’s board of directors. Earlier this year, Nathwani left his chief medical officer and chief digital officer roles at Sanofi (NYSE: [[ticker:SNY]]) as part of an executive team shakeup. His experience also includes 12 years at Novartis (NYSE: [[ticker:NVS]]) in … Continue reading “Dewpoint Therapeutics Taps Ex-Sanofi Executive Ameet Nathwani as CEO”
SQZ Biotech Lines Up an IPO on the NYSE to Fund Cell Therapy R&D
SQZ Biotechnologies, which already has an alliance with Roche focused on developing new cancer cell therapies, is now looking to sell shares to the public to finance its research of potential new treatments for both cancer and infectious disease. In paperwork filed with securities regulators late last week, SQZ set a preliminary $75 million goal … Continue reading “SQZ Biotech Lines Up an IPO on the NYSE to Fund Cell Therapy R&D”
“Opioid Stacking” Concerns Lead FDA to Reject Avenue Therapeutics Drug
An opioid that Avenue Therapeutics reformulated for treating post-surgical pain in hospital settings has been rejected by the FDA due to safety concerns. The Avenue (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ATXI]]) drug is an intravenous formulation of tramadol, an opioid that first reached the US market 25 years ago in pill form. Now New York-based Avenue is trying to … Continue reading ““Opioid Stacking” Concerns Lead FDA to Reject Avenue Therapeutics Drug”
FDA Panel Vote Weighs in Favor of Alkermes Psych Drug, With Caveats
An Alkermes antipsychotic treatment designed to offer the benefits of a commonly prescribed medicine, but without the weight gain side effect, won the backing of an FDA advisory committee on Friday. But even some of the panel members who supported the drug qualified their votes, expressing concern about what the drug could mean for patients … Continue reading “FDA Panel Vote Weighs in Favor of Alkermes Psych Drug, With Caveats”
Bio Roundup: CRISPR Kudos, Bristol Myers’s Buy, RNAi Alliance & More
It’s October: a time of days growing shorter, leaves changing color, and phone calls in the wee hours that rouse scientists from slumber notifying them they’ve won the highest honor in their fields. This week, the 2020 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine was awarded to Harvey Alter, Michael Alton, and Charles Rice, whose research … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: CRISPR Kudos, Bristol Myers’s Buy, RNAi Alliance & More”
Biogen’s AdComm Meeting Will Test FDA’s “Substantial Evidence” Flexibility
A US Food and Drug Administration advisory committee meeting on Biogen, Inc.’s Alzheimer’s drug aducanumab will offer some insight into the amount of flexibility the agency and its external experts are willing to exercise for neurodegenerative diseases with high unmet need, particularly in the wake of a December 2019 guidance document on the quantum and … Continue reading “Biogen’s AdComm Meeting Will Test FDA’s “Substantial Evidence” Flexibility”
In RNAi Move, Takeda Fronts $300M to Team Up on Arrowhead Liver Drug
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals’ gene silencing treatment for a rare liver disease will move through the regulatory process and potential commercialization with the muscle of Takeda Pharmaceutical behind it. Takeda (NYSE: [[ticker:TAK]]) has agreed to pay $300 million up front in a partnership on Arrowhead (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ARWR]]) drug ARO-AAT as a treatment for alpha-1 antitrypsin-associated liver disease. … Continue reading “In RNAi Move, Takeda Fronts $300M to Team Up on Arrowhead Liver Drug”
BIO Launches ‘Biotech Votes’ Campaign to Encourage Registration and Informed Voting
Science is the way out of this pandemic—and scientific breakthroughs are on the ballot on November 3. To help you get ready for Election Day, BIO’s initiative Biotech Votes has resources to help you get registered and get informed. First, make sure you’re registered to vote. Check out this handy form to verify your voter … Continue reading “BIO Launches ‘Biotech Votes’ Campaign to Encourage Registration and Informed Voting”
Scribe Therapeutics Sets Out to Write CRISPR Gene Editing’s Next Chapter
The first generation of CRISPR-based therapies showed how the technology can edit DNA, making genetic fixes to unwanted mutations. But those treatments use the CRISPR system as scientists found it in nature, which means it still has limitations when applied to humans, says Benjamin Oakes, CEO of Scribe Therapeutics. Scribe aims to develop gene-editing therapies … Continue reading “Scribe Therapeutics Sets Out to Write CRISPR Gene Editing’s Next Chapter”
Federation Bio Bags $50M to Engineer New Approach to Microbiome Drugs
Scientists at microbiome therapy developers often talk about the importance of community, how the bugs in our gut act in concert in addition to their individual roles. That’s important for microbiome health and for microbe-based therapies, says Emily Drabant Conley, CEO of startup Federation Bio. Conley’s company is developing therapies that build on the understanding of … Continue reading “Federation Bio Bags $50M to Engineer New Approach to Microbiome Drugs”
Bristol Myers to Buy MyoKardia, FDA-Ready Heart Disease Drug for $13.1B
Bristol Myers Squibb is bolstering its cardiovascular drug lineup with a $13.1 billion deal to acquire MyoKardia, a company whose experimental therapy for a rare type of heart disease is on track for an FDA submission and is projected to become a blockbuster seller, if approved. According to financial terms announced Monday, Bristol (NYSE: [[ticker:BMY]]) … Continue reading “Bristol Myers to Buy MyoKardia, FDA-Ready Heart Disease Drug for $13.1B”
Bristol Myers’s Hirawat on Pipeline Progress, Clinical Trial Diversity
As the one-year anniversary of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company’s $74bn acquisition of Celgene Corporation approaches, Scrip spoke with chief medical officer Samit Hirawat about the big pharma’s achievements during a challenging period in which the COVID-19 pandemic threatened to derail clinical trials and a national spotlight on racial inequality shined a light on the industry’s lack … Continue reading “Bristol Myers’s Hirawat on Pipeline Progress, Clinical Trial Diversity”
Bio Roundup: MESO’s Miss, Pfizer’s Cancer Bet, Vaccine Promise & More
Amid the bombast of Tuesday’s presidential debate, viewers caught some discussion about the response to the coronavirus pandemic and efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. In the crosstalk, the president made an unsupported claim that we are weeks away from having vaccines. It’s true that some pharmaceutical companies are already manufacturing their COVID-19 vaccine candidates … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: MESO’s Miss, Pfizer’s Cancer Bet, Vaccine Promise & More”
FDA Lifts Solid Bio Clinical Hold, Duchenne Study Cleared to Resume
Solid Biosciences has answered the FDA’s outstanding questions about its Duchenne muscular gene therapy, clearing a clinical trial to now resume after patient complications last year led the agency to halt the study for a second time. Cambridge, MA-based Solid Bio (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SLDB]]) said Thursday that it expects dosing of patients in the Phase 1/2 … Continue reading “FDA Lifts Solid Bio Clinical Hold, Duchenne Study Cleared to Resume”
Genfit Restructuring Cuts Staff by 40%, Creates Two New Subsidiaries
[Updated 10/1/2020. See below.] Genfit is halting all work on its lead drug in the fatty liver disorder nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and implementing a corporate restructuring that will cut 40 percent of its staff, splitting the remaining workforce into two distinct business units. The announcement after the market close on Wednesday follows the May failure … Continue reading “Genfit Restructuring Cuts Staff by 40%, Creates Two New Subsidiaries”
Invetx Appoints Bill Brondyk, Colin Giles to Executive Team
Invetx has appointed Bill Brondyk to serve as its chief scientific officer. His experience includes posts at Ohana Therapeutics and Sanofi (NYSE: [[ticker:SNY]]). Boston-based Invetx also named Colin Giles, a veteran of Nexvet Biopharma and Pfizer Animal Health, to become its chief development officer. Invetx uses the science underlying biologic drugs for humans to develop … Continue reading “Invetx Appoints Bill Brondyk, Colin Giles to Executive Team”
Thrive Earlier Detection Taps CVS’s Asgarian as Chief Medical Officer
Cancer diagnostics developer Thrive Earlier Detection has named Sam Asgarian its chief medical officer. He joins Thrive from CVS Health (NYSE: [[ticker:CVS]]), where he was vice president of the company’s transformation health product divison. He came to CVS via its acquisition of Aetna. In other moves, Dina Ciarimboli, who had been serving as interim general … Continue reading “Thrive Earlier Detection Taps CVS’s Asgarian as Chief Medical Officer”
Pfizer Pumps $200M Into CStone for Rights to PD-L1 Cancer Drug in China
CStone Pharmaceuticals has touted its experimental drug sugemalimab as potentially the best in its class of cancer immunotherapies. Pfizer is placing a bet on that promise by making a $200 million equity investment in CStone for rights to that drug in China. According to deal terms announced late Tuesday, Pfizer (NYSE: [[ticker:PFE]]) is purchasing nearly … Continue reading “Pfizer Pumps $200M Into CStone for Rights to PD-L1 Cancer Drug in China”
With Phase 2 Data in Hand, Ovid Eyes Multiple Pivotal Trials for Epilepsy Drug
Ovid Therapeutics and Takeda Pharmaceutical joined forces three years ago to develop a small molecule into a potential epilepsy drug. That research is starting to pay off as the companies now look ahead to pivotal studies testing that compound in several inherited forms of the disorder. On Wednesday, New York-based Ovid (NASDAQ: [[ticker:OVID]]) reported Phase … Continue reading “With Phase 2 Data in Hand, Ovid Eyes Multiple Pivotal Trials for Epilepsy Drug”
Orphazyme Stock Sale Reaps $83M as Neimann-Pick Drug Review Begins
Orphazyme has fresh cash from the sale of shares in the US and Europe, which will support its lead rare disease drug through regulatory review and, if approved, a launch. But the drug fell short in key clinical trial measures, raising questions about its approvability. Now the FDA wants additional data, potentially throwing a wrench … Continue reading “Orphazyme Stock Sale Reaps $83M as Neimann-Pick Drug Review Begins”
Praxis Precision Medicines Leads Way as Three More Biotechs Prep IPOs
Praxis Precision Medicines kept mostly quiet about its research on central nervous system disorder (CNS) drugs until May, when it emerged from stealth and revealed $100 million in cumulative financing. Now the company is aiming to raise about that amount in an IPO that will fund clinical development of its drug pipeline. Cambridge, MA-based Praxis … Continue reading “Praxis Precision Medicines Leads Way as Three More Biotechs Prep IPOs”
Ex-Radius Health Exec Carmona Joins Rubius as Chief Financial Officer
Rubius Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RUBY]]) has appointed Jose “Pepe” Carmona to serve as its chief financial officer, the same position he held most recently at Radius Health (NASDAQ: [[ticker:RDUS]]). Cambridge, MA-based Rubius is engineering red blood cells into potential therapies. Earlier this year, Rubius stopped work on its lead drug candidate for a rare metabolic disorder … Continue reading “Ex-Radius Health Exec Carmona Joins Rubius as Chief Financial Officer”
Freeline Therapeutics Promotes Corbau to Chief Scientific Officer
Gene therapy developer Freeline Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:FRLN]]) has promoted Romuald Corbau to chief scientific officer. He joined London-based Freeline in 2017 as vice president of research. Amit Nathwani, the company’s founder and outgoing chief scientific officer, will remain with the company as clinical and scientific adviser and member of the board of directors. Freeline is … Continue reading “Freeline Therapeutics Promotes Corbau to Chief Scientific Officer”
Galecto Picks Up $64M as Plans for Fibrosis Clinical Trials Move Forward
Had things turned out differently, scientists at Galecto might be watching their idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis drug candidate develop in the hands of a big pharmaceutical company. But Bristol Myers Squibb passed on its option to acquire Galecto leaving the biotech to forge ahead on its own. Now the company has $64 million to advance clinical … Continue reading “Galecto Picks Up $64M as Plans for Fibrosis Clinical Trials Move Forward”
Bio Roundup: Grail Acquisition, Libra’s Launch, Tau Trial Results & More
In biotech, you can go home again. Four years ago, Illumina spun out cancer diagnostics startup Grail. This week, the gene sequencing giant announced it is acquiring Grail in an $8 billion cash and stock deal. Grail set out with the goal of developing a diagnostic test that detects cancer from the genetic snippets tumors … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: Grail Acquisition, Libra’s Launch, Tau Trial Results & More”
Combined Therapeutics Inc Wins $250,000 MilliporeSigma Advance Biotech Grant
MilliporeSigma has awarded MIT spin-out Combined Therapeutics Inc. as the winner of its 2020 North America Advance Biotech Grant. Combined Therapeutics Inc (CTx) is an early stage startup developing next generation virotherapies targeted with nucleic acids. The pre-clinical biotech aims to develop therapies to treat liver cancer using its targeted oncolytic platform. The firm—founded by … Continue reading “Combined Therapeutics Inc Wins $250,000 MilliporeSigma Advance Biotech Grant”
Monte Rosa Raises $96M for “Glue-Based” Protein Degrading Drugs
Many drugs work by binding to a protein and blocking it. Technology for eliminating disease-causing proteins altogether remains experimental, but this approach has gained ground in the past year with hundreds of millions of dollars raised and compounds advanced into clinical testing. Monte Rosa is one of the newer companies in this “protein degradation” space … Continue reading “Monte Rosa Raises $96M for “Glue-Based” Protein Degrading Drugs”
And the 2020 National Xconomy Awards Winners Are…
Congratulations to all the finalists and winners! This year we received over 600 nominations across 10 award categories. Each nomination was carefully reviewed and ranked by the Xconomy editorial staff yielding 40 finalists. All have made unique, game-changing contributions that improve our ability to discover, develop, and deliver effective therapeutics and vaccines to those most … Continue reading “And the 2020 National Xconomy Awards Winners Are…”
Libra Strikes a Balance With Approach to ALS and Other Neuro Disorders
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has no cure and few available treatments but the past decade has revealed new knowledge about the pathology of the disease. Libra Therapeutics is turning that research into potential therapies, and it now has $29 million to advance its work. While the exact causes of many neurological disorders are unknown, Libra … Continue reading “Libra Strikes a Balance With Approach to ALS and Other Neuro Disorders”
Tau-Targeting Alzheimer’s Drug from AC Immune, Roche Fails in Phase 2
An Alzheimer’s disease drug from partners AC Immune and Roche has failed a mid-stage clinical trial, adding another compound to the list of experimental therapies that have fallen short of demonstrating that they can treat the neurodegenerative disorder. The drug, semorinemab, was tested in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. It did not achieve the Phase … Continue reading “Tau-Targeting Alzheimer’s Drug from AC Immune, Roche Fails in Phase 2”
Athira CEO Kawas: Alzheimer’s Drug Aims for “Recovery of Brain Function”
The key to Athira Pharma’s approach to Alzheimer’s disease is already inside each of us: a repair mechanism that can regenerate damaged neurons. What’s needed to begin the process is a pharmacological kickstart. Athira (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ATHA]]) is developing a drug intended to turn on the repair pathway. The company’s experimental therapy is a small molecule … Continue reading “Athira CEO Kawas: Alzheimer’s Drug Aims for “Recovery of Brain Function””
Gene Therapy Firms Seek Clarity on FDA Exclusivity, Orphan Designations
Gene therapy product developers are seeking more clarity from the US Food and Drug Administration on when viral vectors from the same class will be considered sufficiently different for purposes of awarding orphan drug designation or exclusivity. In addition, stakeholders want the FDA to better define, and provide examples of, the types of minor differences … Continue reading “Gene Therapy Firms Seek Clarity on FDA Exclusivity, Orphan Designations”
Xconomy Awards On-Demand ‘Meet the Finalists’ Webcast Series Continues This Week
The 2020 National Xconomy Awards complimentary two-week, 11-part, on-demand Meet the Finalists daily webcast series continues this Tuesday and Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET. Registration is complimentary and includes access to a networking app with already more than 600 life science contacts. The daily series leads up to the Thursday, Sept. 24 free online National Xconomy Awards … Continue reading “Xconomy Awards On-Demand ‘Meet the Finalists’ Webcast Series Continues This Week”
Illumina to Acquire Cancer Diagnostics Developer Grail in $8B Deal
[Updated, 3:45 pm ET.] Grail is set to be acquired for $8 billion by Illumina, the gene sequencing giant that formed the cancer diagnostics developer and spun it out as a separate company four years ago. The announcement comes less than two weeks after Menlo Park, CA-based Grail revealed its plans for an IPO to … Continue reading “Illumina to Acquire Cancer Diagnostics Developer Grail in $8B Deal”
Bio Roundup: SeaGen Scores, Dyne’s Debut, Microbiome Moves & More
Gilead Sciences CEO Daniel O’Day has spoken openly about acquisitions as a way to build up the company’s drug pipeline. This week, it made its biggest buy yet. The $21 billion Immunomedics acquisition brings to Gilead a cancer drug that many analysts project will become a blockbuster seller. Some of those analysts think Gilead might … Continue reading “Bio Roundup: SeaGen Scores, Dyne’s Debut, Microbiome Moves & More”
Dyne’s Upsized IPO Brings In $233M for Muscle Disorders Drug R&D
Dyne Therapeutics, a company developing genetic medicines for rare muscular disorders, has raised $233 million in an IPO that topped the preclinical-stage biotech’s projections. Late Wednesday, Dyne priced its offering of about 12.3 million shares at $19 each. The Waltham, MA-based biotech had previously planned to sell 10.3 million shares in the range of $16 … Continue reading “Dyne’s Upsized IPO Brings In $233M for Muscle Disorders Drug R&D”
BIO Chief: “Reckless” Executive Order on Drug Prices Threatens Innovation
The US is doing more in the COVID-19 space than anywhere in the world due to the strength of its innovative ecosystem, says Michelle McMurry-Heath, president & CEO of life sciences advocacy group Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). But such innovation is under threat due to “reckless” orders coming out of the White House. As part … Continue reading “BIO Chief: “Reckless” Executive Order on Drug Prices Threatens Innovation”
Finch Therapeutics Fetches $90M to Advance Microbiome Drug Pipeline
When Seres Therapeutics reported positive late-stage data for its experimental microbiome treatment last month, scientists at Finch Therapeutics cheered the results from the rival company whose lead drug candidate addresses the same gut infection they aim to treat. Positive data, no matter the source, helps the entire microbiome therapies field and paves the way for … Continue reading “Finch Therapeutics Fetches $90M to Advance Microbiome Drug Pipeline”
Arrowhead Pharma Shares Soar on Early Liver Data for RNAi Drug
An Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals drug for a rare liver disease now has early Phase 2 results and the data so far look good. Not only did the therapy reduce levels of a mutant protein associated with the disorder, but patients also showed improvements in several biological measures of liver injury. The results are for just four … Continue reading “Arrowhead Pharma Shares Soar on Early Liver Data for RNAi Drug”
Moderna CMO Talks COVID-19 Vaccine at the Xcelerate Keynote Series
The Xcelerate Keynote Series has added Moderna CMO Tal Zaks to the expert lineup of speakers set to present next Monday, Sept. 21. As you likely know, Moderna is one of the front-runners in the COVID-19 vaccine race, and we look forward to adding his insight to a packed agenda focused on innovative solutions during … Continue reading “Moderna CMO Talks COVID-19 Vaccine at the Xcelerate Keynote Series”
Neogene Therapeutics Grabs $110M to Tackle Solid Tumors With Cell Therapy
Cell therapy offers another option for addressing the most difficult blood cancer cases, but such treatments, which are engineered from a patient’s own immune cells, don’t yet work on solid tumors. Neogene Therapeutics is developing technology with the potential to bring cell therapies to solid tumors and it now has $110 million to advance its … Continue reading “Neogene Therapeutics Grabs $110M to Tackle Solid Tumors With Cell Therapy”
Unity Bio Restructuring Cuts 30% of Staff, Keeps Focus on Eye Drug
Unity Biotechnology is cutting nearly one third of its staff, a move that comes a month after the biotech’s lead drug candidate failed a mid-stage study in osteoarthritis. South San Francisco-based Unity (NASDAQ: [[ticker:UBX]]) says that the corporate restructuring announced Tuesday should make the cash that it has left last through mid-2022, when data are … Continue reading “Unity Bio Restructuring Cuts 30% of Staff, Keeps Focus on Eye Drug”
Silence Therapeutics Taps Orchard’s Mark Rothera as President & CEO
Mark Rothera has been appointed president and CEO of Silence Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SLN]]). He comes to London-based Silence from Orchard Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:ORTX]]), where he was chief executive. Rothera’s experience also includes positions at PTC Therapeutics (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PTCT]]), Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, and Shire. Rothera is starting at Silence one week after the company debuted on the … Continue reading “Silence Therapeutics Taps Orchard’s Mark Rothera as President & CEO”
Synlogic Names Metera’s David Hava as Chief Scientific Officer
David Hava has joined Synlogic (NASDAQ: [[ticker:SYBX]]) as chief scientific officer, the same position he held most recently at Metera Pharmaceuticals. He also previously served as chief scientific officer of Pulmatrix (NASDAQ: [[ticker:PULM]]). Cambridge, MA-based Synlogic is engineering bacteria to serve as “living medicines.” The biotech’s lead program, SYB1618, is in mid-stage development as a … Continue reading “Synlogic Names Metera’s David Hava as Chief Scientific Officer”