4D Molecular Therapeutics Appoints Noriyuki Kasahara, MD, PhD to the Board of Directors and Promotes Fred Kamal, PhD to President and Chief Operating Officer
4D Molecular Therapeutics (Nasdaq: FDMT) has appointed Noriyuki Kasahara, MD, PhD to its Board of Directors and promoted Fred Kamal, PhD to President and COO. These leadership changes aim to enhance the company's clinical development of five product candidates targeting ophthalmology, cardiology, and pulmonology. Dr. Kasahara brings over 30 years of expertise in gene therapy, while Dr. Kamal's expanded role reflects a commitment to the company's growth. The five clinical candidates are 4D-150, 4D-310, 4D-710, 4D-125, and 4D-110, although none have FDA approval yet.
- Appointment of Noriyuki Kasahara could enhance genetic medicine expertise.
- Promotion of Fred Kamal signifies strengthened leadership and direction.
- No FDA approvals for the five product candidates raises concerns about market readiness.
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Sept. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 4D Molecular Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: FDMT), a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company harnessing the power of directed evolution for targeted genetic medicines, announced the appointment of Noriyuki (‘Nori’) Kasahara, MD, PhD to the Board of Directors. In addition, 4DMT announced the promotion of Fred Kamal, PhD to President and Chief Operating Officer, marking an expansion of the breadth and responsibility of Dr. Kamal’s role as a member of the senior leadership team.
“Together with our Executive Chairman, John Milligan, I am thrilled to welcome Nori to our Board as we continue to advance each of our five product candidates in clinical development and enhance our genetic medicine platform,” said David Kirn, MD, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of 4DMT. “Nori’s translational and genetic medicine expertise, which includes the application of genetic medicine technologies across a broad range of therapeutic areas, will support the current and future development of the 4DMT therapeutic vector evolution platform and the development of genetic medicines for sustainable large-market diseases. I am also pleased to announce the promotion of Fred Kamal, PhD, to the role of President and Chief Operating Officer,” added Kirn. “Fred’s vast experience and dedication to 4DMT’s mission will propel our continued success and growth as he takes on this expanded role.”
“I am tremendously excited to join 4DMT, with its immense potential to generate novel targeted genetic medicines through its powerful platform technology,” said Nori Kasahara, MD, PhD. “I look forward to complementing the existing translational medicine expertise of 4DMT’s Board and executive management team as the company generates value, not only through clinical translation and validation of 4DMT’s five current product candidates, but also through continued advancement of its platform.”
Dr. Kasahara is Professor and Alvera L. Kan Endowed Chair of Neurological Surgery and Radiation Oncology at the University of California San Francisco (“UCSF”), and a principal investigator in the UCSF Brain Tumor Center. He has more than 30 years of experience in the fields of gene therapy and genetic engineering, is the author of more than 150 peer-reviewed articles and an inventor on 18 issued patents in these fields. The goals of Dr. Kasahara’s research include optimizing the application of multiple and diverse viral vector delivery systems to achieve maximal therapeutic potential, as well as developing next-generation gene transfer technologies with greater therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Dr. Kasahara serves as a member of the Global Outreach Committee for the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy, is a past president of the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy of Cancer, and is on the Board of Directors of the Japan Society of Gene and Cell Therapy.
About 4DMT
4DMT is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company harnessing the power of directed evolution for targeted genetic medicines. 4DMT seeks to unlock the full potential of genetic medicines using its platform, Therapeutic Vector Evolution, which combines the power of directed evolution with approximately one billion synthetic capsid sequences to invent targeted and evolved vectors for use in our products. The company is initially focused on five clinical-stage products in three therapeutic areas for both rare and large market diseases: ophthalmology, cardiology (including Fabry disease) and pulmonology. The 4DMT targeted and evolved vectors are invented with the goal of being delivered at relatively low doses through clinically routine, well-tolerated and minimally invasive routes of administration, transducing diseased cells in target tissues efficiently, having reduced immunogenicity and, where relevant, having resistance to pre-existing antibodies. The five 4DMT product candidates in clinical development are: 4D-150 for wet AMD, 4D-310 for Fabry disease, 4D-710 for cystic fibrosis, 4D-125 for XLRP, and 4D-110 for choroideremia.
4D-150, 4D-310, 4D-710, 4D-125, and 4D-110 are in clinical trials and have not yet been approved for marketing by the US FDA or any other regulatory authority. No representation is made as to the safety or effectiveness of 4D-150, 4D-310, 4D-710, 4D-125, and 4D-110 for the therapeutic use for which they are being studied. 4D Molecular Therapeutics™, 4DMT™, Therapeutic Vector Evolution™, and the 4DMT logo are trademarks of 4DMT.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, implied and express statements regarding plans for the clinical development of 4D-310, 4D-125, 4D-110, 4D-150 and 4D-710, including the therapeutic potential and clinical benefits thereof. The words "may," “might,” "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," “expect,” "estimate," “seek,” "predict," “future,” "project," "potential," "continue," "target" and similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including risks and uncertainties that are described in greater detail in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in 4D Molecular Therapeutics’ most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as any subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, any forward-looking statements represent 4D Molecular Therapeutics' views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. 4D Molecular Therapeutics explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements.
Contacts:
Media:
Katherine Smith
Evoke Canale
Katherine.Smith@evokegroup.com
Investors:
Mike Zanoni
VP, Investor Relations & Corporate Affairs
mzanoni@4dmt.com
FAQ
What are the leadership changes at 4D Molecular Therapeutics as of September 2022?
What is the significance of Noriyuki Kasahara's appointment to 4D Molecular Therapeutics?
How does Fred Kamal's promotion affect 4D Molecular Therapeutics?
What product candidates is 4D Molecular Therapeutics currently developing?
Are the product candidates from 4D Molecular Therapeutics approved by the FDA?
