KSQ Appoints Mahesh Karande to its Board of Directors

Rhea-AI Summary

KSQ Therapeutics announced the appointment of Mahesh Karande, President and CEO of Omega Therapeutics (OMGA), to its board of directors. His expertise in product commercialization and fundraising is expected to bolster KSQ's efforts in advancing clinical studies for KSQ-4279 and the eTIL cell therapy programs. Karande brings a wealth of experience, having previously led initiatives at Novartis Pharmaceuticals and Macrolide Pharma. His insights will be pivotal as KSQ explores novel cancer therapies through its proprietary CRISPRomics® platform.

Positive

• Appointment of Mahesh Karande is expected to enhance board expertise in commercialization and fundraising.
• Karande's experience in leading product launches and strategic initiatives is beneficial for KSQ's clinical programs.
• KSQ-4279 and eTIL cell therapy programs may gain momentum with Karande's leadership.

Negative

• Concerns may arise regarding continuity and potential gaps in leadership experience with the recent appointment.

LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KSQ Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing therapies to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases using its proprietary, integrated discovery CRISPRomics® platform, today announced the appointment of Mahesh Karande, President and CEO of Omega Therapeutics, to the company's board of directors.

"Mahesh’s deep experience in company leading, product commercialization, fundraising, and deal-making are great additions to the skillset we've assembled on our board," said Qasim Rizvi, Chief Executive Officer of KSQ Therapeutics. "His insights and guidance will be invaluable as we continue to advance KSQ-4279 through clinical studies and work towards bringing our engineered TIL (eTIL™) cell therapy programs into the clinic."

"KSQ's platform and science are impressive and have yielded multiple exciting and novel targets that provide significant opportunities to help patients with various cancers and solid tumors," said Karande. "I look forward to working closely with the company to maximize the potential of its programs, including KSQ-4279 and the eTIL cell therapy franchise, and I'm excited to see where the CRISPRomics platform can take us as we move into new and exciting areas, including NK cells, Tregs and myeloid cells."

Mahesh is the President and CEO of Omega Therapeutics (Nasdaq: OMGA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering Omega Epigenomic Controllers, a new class of programmable mRNA medicines. At Omega, he has led the company’s development of their Epigenomic Programming platform and the translation of novel science into a broad pipeline in oncology, regenerative medicine, immunology, inflammatory conditions, and important monogenic conditions. Before Omega, he was CEO of Macrolide Pharma, where he re-assessed the company's core strategy and optimized a path forward for the highest shareholder return. Mahesh previously held numerous leadership roles at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, most recently as a corporate-level Vice President and US franchise Head leading the oncology solid tumors business. He also served as President of Africa, President of Egypt and Regional Vice President of strategy and business development for emerging markets, where he oversaw the execution of more than 50 partnership deals. He has led more than 10 product launches in the U.S. and across global markets. Prior to entering the pharmaceutical industry, Mahesh worked for the global management consulting firm McKinsey.

Mahesh has an M.B.A. from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. He is also a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he completed his M.S. in engineering, and the University of Bombay, where he completed undergraduate studies in engineering.

About KSQ Therapeutics

KSQ Therapeutics is advancing a pipeline of tumor- and immune-focused drug candidates to treat cancer and autoimmune disease across multiple drug modalities, including targeted therapies, adoptive cell therapies, and immunotherapies. KSQ's proprietary CRISPRomics® discovery engine enables genome-scale, in vivo validated, unbiased drug discovery across broad therapeutic areas. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.ksqtx.com and follow @ksq_tx on Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221208005149/en/

Media:

Cory Tromblee

cory@scientpr.com

Source: KSQ Therapeutics

FAQ

What is the significance of Mahesh Karande joining KSQ Therapeutics' board?

Mahesh Karande's appointment is significant due to his extensive experience in commercialization and fundraising, which can enhance KSQ's strategic direction.

How might Mahesh Karande's leadership impact Omega Therapeutics (OMGA)?

While Karande focuses on KSQ, his role at Omega Therapeutics (OMGA) might shift, potentially impacting its direction amid his dual commitments.

What are KSQ-4279 and eTIL cell therapy programs?

KSQ-4279 is a drug candidate developed by KSQ Therapeutics aimed at treating cancer, while eTIL refers to engineered tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapies.

What is CRISPRomics® and its relevance to KSQ Therapeutics?

CRISPRomics® is KSQ Therapeutics' proprietary platform for genome-scale drug discovery, aiding in the development of innovative cancer therapies.

What prior experience does Mahesh Karande have that qualifies him for the board position?

Mahesh Karande has led strategic initiatives at notable companies like Novartis and Macrolide Pharma, managing product launches and enhancing shareholder value.