Harness Therapeutics Appoints Experienced R&D Executive and Physician-Scientist, Dr Paulo Fontoura, as Non-Executive Director
September 04 2024 - 3:00AM
Dr Paulo Fontoura brings 20 years’
experience of working in the pharma industry, with the most recent
16 years focusing on translational medicine and clinical
development approaches for one of the world’s largest
pharmaceutical companies
Cambridge, UK, September 4, 2024:
Harness Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on protein
upregulation to develop disease-modifying therapeutics for
neurodegenerative diseases, today announces the appointment of Dr
Paulo Fontoura to its Board as Non-Executive Director (NED). With
his deep understanding of neurology and broad experience of
clinical development from his time as Global Head of Neuroscience
at Roche, Dr Fontoura brings invaluable insight and experience to
Harness Therapeutics as it expands its portfolio of first-in-class
RNA-based therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases.
During his time at Roche, Dr Fontoura was
involved in launching several breakthrough medicines for
neurological indications including Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Spinal
Muscular Atrophy (SMA), Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder
(NMOSD) as well as for a number of ophthalmic diseases. In
addition, he played an important part in pioneering new approaches
to clinical development, such as mobile digital health outcomes
using smartphone-based self-monitoring, and validation of the first
digital endpoint for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Prior to this, Dr Fontoura pursued a clinical
and academic career and held several faculty positions at the New
University of Lisbon, from where he obtained his MD and PhD in
Neuroimmunology and trained as a clinical neurologist. This was
followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship at Stanford
University School of Medicine, focussing on the discovery of new
autoantigens and the development of therapeutic DNA vaccines for
MS.
In 2022, Dr Fontoura was elected as a Fellow of
the American Academy of Neurology, recognizing special achievement
in neurosciences, the clinical practice of neurology, and academic
and administrative neurology. He is a visiting professor at the New
University of Lisbon, as well as a lecturer at the European Center
of Pharmaceutical Medicine in Basel.
Jan Thirkettle, CEO of Harness
commented, “Paulo’s deep experience of clinical development across
neuroscience gives him unique insights into the targets and
strategies which could offer real promise to patients, making him
an excellent addition to the Harness Therapeutics board. Paulo
joins the company at a propitious time as we prepare our lead
Huntington’s Disease programme for clinical trials and refine our
plans for a number of other promising targets for neurodegenerative
disease treatment based on controlled upregulation.”
Dr Paulo Fontoura added, “I am
very pleased to join the Harness Therapeutics Board and to play a
part in the development of this exciting young company. The aim at
Harness is to exploit the mechanisms controlling RNA translation to
open up new drug targets upstream of disease pathology. This is a
compelling mission, and one which I believe is critical to meeting
the needs of patients with neurodegenerative diseases given the
limitations of existing approaches and targets. I look forward to
working with the team to help advance programmes for Huntington’s
and ALS, and to help identify and secure future opportunities for
Harness’s platform.”
***
About Harness Therapeutics
Harness Therapeutics is a biotechnology company
focused on the development of next generation therapeutics for the
treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, with a lead programme in
Huntington’s Disease targeting FAN1 to limit somatic expansion and
a second programme with an undisclosed target addressing TDP-43
pathology. Focussing on neurodegeneration targets with strong
biology and genetic validation, Harness Therapeutics utilises its
deep understanding of RNA biology and post-transcriptional
regulation to enable drugging of potentially disease-modifying
targets with oligonucleotide-based drugs to achieve controlled
increases in protein expression.
Harness Therapeutics has assembled a world-class
team focused on the mission of building the most efficient platform
for controlled upregulation of CNS targets which underpin
neurodegenerative disease. This includes extensive RNA biology and
bioinformatics expertise, specialist analytics capabilities and
unique neurological cell models. Harness Therapeutics’ unique
platform generates multiple orthogonal upregulation strategies
which are tested in highly translatable in vitro cell models to
identify constructs capable of increasing endogenous protein
translation. This specific and controlled approach to increasing
target proteins allows drugging targets which would not be
addressable using gene therapy or other modalities.
Harness Therapeutics is based in Cambridge, UK,
and was originally established by leading life science investors
Takeda Ventures and SV Health Investors’ Dementia Discovery Fund in
2020. Harness Therapeutic’s current investor base also includes
Epidarex Capital.
For more information, please visit
https://www.harnesstx.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn.
CONTACTS:
Harness TherapeuticsDr Jan Thirkettle,
CEOinfo@Harnesstx.com
MEDiSTRAVA Sylvie Berrebi,
Frazer HallHarnesstx@medistrava.com