SAN
DIEGO, May 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Avidity
Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: RNA), a biopharmaceutical company
committed to delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics called
Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs™), today announced the
appointment of Simona Skerjanec,
M.Pharm, MBA to its board of directors. Ms. Skerjanec brings nearly
three decades of global experience in the pharmaceutical industry
with a strong track record in developing and launching therapies,
as well as shaping corporate strategy to deliver transformative
treatments to people living with serious diseases.
"We are pleased to have Simona join our board of directors. Her
global leadership experience and expertise in product
commercialization will be invaluable as Avidity builds an
integrated global organization to profoundly improve people's lives
by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics," said Sarah Boyce, president and chief executive
officer at Avidity. "Simona's experience in rare diseases,
cardiology and neurology will be important as we advance our
clinical programs for neuromuscular diseases into pivotal studies
and continue to expand the depth and breadth of our AOC platform
into additional therapeutic areas, including precision
cardiology."
Ms. Skerjanec has led multiple research and development efforts
that have resulted in regulatory approvals and launches of
commercial therapies in therapeutic areas including neurology and
cardiology in the U.S. and other countries. Most recently, Ms.
Skerjanec was the Senior Vice President and Global Neuroscience
Head at Roche in Switzerland and
led the business and global strategy for Roche's portfolio of
neurological and rare diseases, including Ocrevus® for
the treatment of multiple sclerosis and a novel monoclonal antibody
for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. During her nine-year
tenure at Roche, she also served as a General Manager of Roche in
Portugal. Prior to joining Roche,
Simona was Senior Vice President and Cardiovascular franchise head
at The Medicines Company where she held various roles of increasing
responsibilities in development and commercialization. She also
held positions at Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
"I am pleased to join the board of directors at Avidity as the
company utilizes its transformative science to develop and bring
new treatments to help improve the lives of patients and their
families around the globe," said Ms. Skerjanec. "I look forward to
partnering with the executive leadership team and other members of
the board as the company continues to revolutionize the delivery of
RNA therapeutics."
About Avidity
Avidity Biosciences, Inc.'s
mission is to profoundly improve people's lives by delivering a new
class of RNA therapeutics - Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates
(AOCs™). Avidity is revolutionizing the field of RNA with its
proprietary AOCs, which are designed to combine the specificity of
monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide
therapies to address targets and diseases previously unreachable
with existing RNA therapies. Utilizing its proprietary AOC
platform, Avidity demonstrated the first-ever successful targeted
delivery of RNA into muscle and is leading the field with clinical
development programs for three rare muscle diseases: myotonic
dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and
facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Avidity is
broadening the reach of AOCs with its advancing and expanding
pipeline including programs in cardiology and immunology through
internal discovery efforts and key partnerships. Avidity is
headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information
about our AOC platform, clinical development pipeline and people,
please visit www.aviditybiosciences.com and engage with
us on LinkedIn and X.
Forward-Looking Statements
Avidity cautions readers
that statements contained in this press release regarding matters
that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These
statements are based on the company's current beliefs and
expectations. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, statements regarding: the ability to advance into
pivotal studies and expand the AOC platform into additional
therapeutic areas; and the potential to develop treatments to help
improve the lives of patients and revolutionize the delivery of RNA
therapeutics.
The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be
regarded as a representation by Avidity that any of these plans
will be achieved. Actual results may differ from those set forth in
this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in
Avidity's business, including, without limitation: Avidity may not
be able to resolve the partial clinical hold related to the serious
adverse event which occurred in the Phase 1/2 MARINA™
trial; additional data related to Avidity's current clinical
programs that continues to become available may be inconsistent
with the data produced as of the respective data cutoff dates;
unexpected adverse side effects to, or inadequate efficacy of,
Avidity's product candidates that may delay or limit their
development, regulatory approval and/or commercialization;
Avidity's approach to the discovery and development of product
candidates based on its AOC platform is unproven; potential delays
in the commencement, enrollment, data readouts and completion of
preclinical studies or clinical trials; the success of its
preclinical studies and clinical trials for the company's product
candidates; Avidity's dependence on third parties in connection
with preclinical and clinical testing and product manufacturing;
regulatory developments in the United States and foreign
countries; and other risks described in Avidity's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and
subsequent filings with the SEC. Avidity cautions readers not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no
obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur
or circumstances that arise after the date hereof. All
forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this
cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.
Investor Contact:
Geoffrey
Grande, CFA
(619) 837-5014
investors@aviditybio.com
Media Contact:
Navjot Rai
(619) 837-5016
media@aviditybio.com
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SOURCE Avidity Biosciences, Inc.