Beam Therapeutics Appoints Leading Healthcare Executive Kate Walsh to its Board of Directors

Rhea-AI Summary

Beam Therapeutics (Nasdaq: BEAM) has appointed Kate Walsh, President and CEO of Boston Medical Center, to its board of directors. Walsh brings extensive experience in leading healthcare organizations, which is expected to enhance Beam's mission of developing precision genetic medicines through base editing. The company anticipates 2021 to be a pivotal year, with plans for filing its first Investigational New Drug application. Both Walsh and Beam’s leadership express optimism about the potential impact of its innovative treatments on patients with serious diseases.

Positive

• Appointment of Kate Walsh to the board enhances leadership expertise.
• Expectations for 2021 include filing the first base editing Investigational New Drug application.

Negative

• None.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beam Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: BEAM), a biotechnology company developing precision genetic medicines through base editing, today announced that Kate Walsh, president and chief executive officer of the Boston Medical Center (BMC) health system, has joined the company’s board of directors. BMC is a private, not-for-profit, academic medical center with a community-based focus and is the primary teaching affiliate of Boston University School of Medicine.

“Kate is an exceptional leader with an impressive track record of leading complex and highly successful healthcare organizations of all sizes, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our board,” said John Evans, chief executive officer of Beam Therapeutics. “Beam made tremendous progress across our portfolio in 2020, and 2021 is poised to be an even more significant year with preparations underway for the filing of our first base editing Investigational New Drug application. Kate’s unique insights into delivering care for patients in need will be invaluable as we partner with leading clinical investigators and institutions to advance base editing as a novel class of precision genetic medicines.”

“Having seen firsthand the challenges and hardships that people living with serious or untreatable diseases experience, I am highly encouraged by Beam’s potential to deliver novel, one-time treatments that transform lives,” said Ms. Walsh. “The company’s scientific platform and precision medicine approach could make an impact for so many. I look forward to helping drive this company forward and to partnering with the esteemed Beam team and board of directors on the meaningful milestones ahead.”

Ms. Walsh has extensive experience leading esteemed healthcare organizations. Prior to her appointment at BMC, Ms. Walsh served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Brigham and Women's Hospital. She previously served as the chief operating officer for Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research and at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in positions including senior vice president of medical services at the MGH Cancer Center. Prior to her tenure at MGH, she held positions in a number of New York City hospitals, including Montefiore, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, Saint Luke’s - Roosevelt Hospital Center and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. Ms. Walsh holds a B.A. and a master’s degree in public health from Yale University. She is a member of the boards of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Boston Public Health Commission, the Massachusetts Hospital Association, the AAMC Council of Teaching Hospitals, Pine Street Inn and Yale University.

About Beam Therapeutics
Beam Therapeutics (Nasdaq: BEAM) is a biotechnology company developing precision genetic medicines through the use of base editing. Beam’s proprietary base editors create precise, predictable and efficient single base changes, at targeted genomic sequences, without making double-stranded breaks in the DNA. This enables a wide range of potential therapeutic editing strategies that Beam is using to advance a diversified portfolio of base editing programs. Beam is a values-driven organization committed to its people, cutting-edge science, and a vision of providing life-long cures to patients suffering from serious diseases. For more information, visit www.beamtx.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to: the expected timing for filing our first base editing investigational new drug application, and activities related thereto; and the therapeutic applications and potential of our technology, including our ability to develop one-time, life-long, curative, precision genetic medicines for patients through base editing. Each forward-looking statement is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statement, including, without limitation, risks and uncertainties related to: our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for, and potentially commercialize our product candidates, which may take longer or cost more than planned; our ability to raise additional funding, which may not be available; our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for our product candidates; the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; that preclinical testing of our product candidates and preliminary or interim data from preclinical and clinical trials may not be predictive of the results or success of ongoing or later clinical trials; that enrollment of our clinical trials may take longer than expected; that our product candidates may experience manufacturing or supply interruptions or failures; risks related to competitive products; and the other risks and uncertainties identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020, and September 30, 2020, and in any subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements (except as otherwise noted) speak only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law.

Contacts:

Investors:
Chelcie Lister
THRUST Strategic Communications
chelcie@thrustsc.com 

Media:
Dan Budwick
1AB
dan@1abmedia.com  

FAQ

Who is Kate Walsh and what role has she assumed at Beam Therapeutics?

Kate Walsh is the President and CEO of Boston Medical Center, and she has joined Beam Therapeutics' board of directors.

What are Beam Therapeutics' plans for 2021?

Beam Therapeutics plans to file its first Investigational New Drug application in 2021.

How does Kate Walsh's experience benefit Beam Therapeutics?

Walsh's extensive leadership experience in healthcare organizations is expected to provide valuable insights as Beam advances its precision genetic medicines.

What is the significance of base editing in Beam Therapeutics' approach?

Base editing is a novel technique that allows precise genome modifications, which Beam Therapeutics uses to develop potential one-time curative treatments.