ProQR Strengthens Scientific Advisory Board with Leaders in Inherited Retinal Disease and RNA Therapy

Rhea-AI Summary

ProQR Therapeutics (Nasdaq: PRQR) has enhanced its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with the addition of leading experts in inherited retinal disease and RNA therapies. This strategic move aims to support the advancement of ProQR's RNA therapeutics pipeline. CEO Daniel A. de Boer expressed optimism about the diverse perspectives these experts will contribute. The SAB includes notable figures like James Shannon, Mike Cheetham, and Thaddeus Drija, among others, who collectively bring significant experience in the fields of ophthalmology and RNA drug development.

Positive

• Addition of esteemed experts to the Scientific Advisory Board enhances guidance on RNA therapeutics.
• Diverse perspectives from new members may aid in advancing ProQR's pipeline focused on inherited retinal diseases.

Negative

• None.

LEIDEN, Netherlands & CAMBRIDGE, Mass., July 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ProQR Therapeutics N.V. (Nasdaq:PRQR), a company dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA therapies for severe genetic rare diseases, today announced the strengthening of the Company’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with new members. The SAB members serve as strategic advisors to the Company as it continues to advance its pipeline of RNA therapeutics and its proprietary technology platforms.

“We are strengthening our Scientific Advisory Board with the addition of leading experts in inherited retinal disease and RNA therapies,” said Daniel A. de Boer, Chief Executive Officer of ProQR. “These individuals bring important scientific, medical, and industry experience, as well as diverse perspectives for us to draw upon. I’m excited to work with this distinguished and talented group of advisors and believe their contributions will be significant as we continue advancing our platform for patients living with Inherited Retinal Diseases.”

ProQR’s SAB is comprised of:

• James Shannon, MD, Chair of the SAB, has served on ProQR’s Supervisory Board since 2016. Most recently he was Chief Medical Officer at GlaxoSmithKline until his retirement in 2015.
• Mike Cheetham, PhD, is a Professor of Molecular Cell Biology at the University College London Institute of Ophthalmology. The research in the Cheetham lab is focused on understanding the molecular basis of inherited retinal diseases, developing therapies and the development of 3D retinal organoids.
• Thaddeus (Ted) Drija, MD is the former Global Head of Ophthalmology Research at Novartis. He is  Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Director of Eye Pathology at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary. 
• Donald. S. Fong, MD, MPH, is Chief of Ophthalmology and Director of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Eye Monitoring Center. He is also Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine.
• Art Levin, PhD  is the Chief Scientific Officer at Avidity Biosciences and has more than two decades of experience in RNA drug development from discovery through drug registration, including the development and registration of the first and only oligonucleotide medicine in ophthalmology, Vitravene.
• Martin Maier, PhD is Vice President Research at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals where he heads the RNAi Discovery group. Through his position at Alnylam and a prior position at Ionis Pharmaceuticals he has more than 20 years of experience in the RNA field.
• Tim Stout, MD, PhD, MBA is an Inherited Retinal Disease specialist and the Sid W. Richardson Professor and Margarett Root Brown Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology, and Director of the Cullen Eye Institute at Baylor College of Medicine.
• Phil Zamore PhD is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Gretchen Stone Cook Chair of Biomedical Sciences, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, and Chair of the RNA Therapeutics Institute at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He is also a co-founder of Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and Voyager Therapeutics.

Biographies for the SAB members are available on ProQR’s website.

About ProQR

ProQR Therapeutics is dedicated to changing lives through the creation of transformative RNA therapies for the treatment of severe genetic rare diseases such as Leber congenital amaurosis 10, Usher syndrome and retinitis pigmentosa. Based on our unique proprietary RNA repair platform technologies we are growing our pipeline with patients and loved ones in mind.
*Since 2012*

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to", "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our SAB members, and statements regarding our ongoing and planned discovery and development of our pipeline and the advancement of our novel and proprietary technologies. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information available to management only as of the date of this press release. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements for many reasons, including, without limitation, the risks, uncertainties and other factors in our filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including certain sections of our annual report filed on Form 20-F. Given these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future, except as required by law.

ProQR Therapeutics N.V.

Investor Contact:
Sarah Kiely
ProQR Therapeutics N.V.
T: +1 617 599 6228
skiely@proqr.com
or
Hans Vitzthum
LifeSci Advisors
T: +1 617 535 7743
hans@lifesciadvisors.com  

Media Contact:
Sara Zelkovic
LifeSci Public Relations
T: +1 646 876 4933
sara@lifescipublicrelations.com

FAQ

Who are the new members of ProQR's Scientific Advisory Board as of July 2020?

The new members include James Shannon, Mike Cheetham, Thaddeus Drija, Donald Fong, Art Levin, Martin Maier, Tim Stout, and Phil Zamore.

What is the purpose of ProQR's Scientific Advisory Board?

The SAB serves as strategic advisors to guide the advancement of ProQR's RNA therapeutics and proprietary technology platforms.

How might the new SAB members impact ProQR Therapeutics?

New SAB members bring extensive scientific and medical expertise, which may significantly contribute to advancing ProQR’s therapeutic pipeline.