SYDNEY, Sept. 19, 2018
/PRNewswire/ -- Benitec Biopharma Limited ("Benitec" or the
"Company") (ASX:BLT; NASDAQ: BNTC; NASDAQ: BNTCW), a clinical-stage
biotechnology company developing novel genetic medicines via the
proprietary DNA-directed RNA interference (ddRNAi) platform
combining RNA interference with gene therapy, today announced that
Gregory R. Reyes, M.D., Ph.D., has
joined the company as Senior Scientific Advisor.
As the Senior Scientific Advisor, Dr. Reyes will lead the
Company's efforts to advance and expand its portfolio of gene
therapy products. His leadership and vision will be integral to the
achievement of the operational and strategic goals regarding the
Company's key indications and research programs. Dr. Reyes will
also oversee the expansion of the Company's scientific operations
to facilitate the successful execution of the Company's broad based
research collaboration with Axovant, comprising five additional,
fully funded research programs targeting neurological
disorders.
Jerel A. Banks, M.D. Ph.D.,
Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Benitec
Biopharma, commented on today's news, "Dr. Reyes is an
exceptionally accomplished, long-tenured biopharmaceutical
executive, and his leadership will bring extraordinary value to the
scientific and operational teams as we embark on the next phase of
growth for the Company." Dr. Banks added, "We are excited to
have the opportunity to benefit from the vision and experience of a
renowned industry veteran as we begin to grow
our scientific team and to actively scale our
operational focus to execute the goals underlying both our
proprietary and partnered research programs in neurological,
neuromuscular, and oncologic indications."
Dr. Reyes is a highly accomplished biopharmaceutical executive
who brings over 30 years of successful R&D leadership
experience in major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. He
has held senior leadership roles at Pfizer, Schering-Plough, and
prior to joining Benitec Biopharma, Dr. Reyes held the position of
Senior Vice President, Drug Discovery & Site Head at Celgene
Corporation. Before joining Celgene Corporation, he was the
Senior VP for Oncology Research and Development with Biogen Idec
at their former San Diego
campus.
Gregory R. Reyes, M.D., Ph.D.,
Senior Scientific Advisor, commented, "Benitec is clearly on the
threshold of important and exciting promise from its research with
its current, clinical stage oncology program and its broader
collaboration agreement with Axovant. I am excited to be part
of the team and based on our initial internal R&D meetings, to
determine the future proprietary and partnered indications we will
be installing into our pipeline. I am thrilled to be working with a
leading, cutting-edge team of scientists."
Dr. Reyes obtained his M.D. and Ph.D. at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD and completed his medical and
postdoctoral training at Stanford
University Medical Center, Stanford, CA.
For further information regarding Benitec and its activities,
please contact the persons below, or visit the Benitec website at
www.benitec.com.
United States
Investor Relations
Jay
Morakis
President &
CEO
M Group Strategic
Communications
Tel: +1 646 417
8514
Email:
jmorakis@mgroupsc.com
|
Australia Investor
Relations
Megan
Boston
Executive
Director
Benitec Biopharma
Limited
Tel:
+61 400 195 388
Email:
mboston@benitec.com
|
About Benitec Biopharma Limited:
Benitec
Biopharma Limited (ASX: BLT; NASDAQ: BNTC; NASDAQ: BNTCW) is a
clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of
novel genetic medicines. The proprietary platform, called
DNA-directed RNA interference, or ddRNAi, combines RNA
interference, or RNAi, with gene therapy to create medicines
that facilitate sustained silencing of disease-causing genes
following a single administration. Based in Sydney, Australia with laboratories in
Hayward, California (USA), and
collaborators and licensees around the world, the Company is
developing ddRNAi-based therapeutics for chronic and
life-threatening human conditions including oculopharyngeal
muscular dystrophy (OPMD), squamous cell carcinoma of the head
& neck (SCCHN), ophthalmolgic disorders such as wet age-related
macular degeneration (AMD), and chronic hepatitis B. Benitec has
also licensed ddRNAi to other biopharmaceutical companies for
applications including HIV/AIDS, Huntington's Disease, chronic neuropathic
pain, cancer immunotherapy and retinitis pigmentosa.
Safe Harbor Statement:
This press release
contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section
27A of the US Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the US
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any forward-looking statements
that may be in this ASX/Nasdaq announcement are subject to risks
and uncertainties relating to the difficulties in Benitec's plans
to develop and commercialise its product candidates, the timing of
the initiation and completion of preclinical and clinical trials,
the timing of patient enrolment and dosing in clinical trials, the
timing of expected regulatory filings, the clinical utility and
potential attributes and benefits of ddRNAi and Benitec's product
candidates, potential future out-licenses and collaborations, the
intellectual property position and the ability to procure
additional sources of financing. Accordingly, you should not rely
on those forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual
future results.
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SOURCE Benitec Biopharma Limited