Vedanta Biosciences Appoints Simona Levi as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary

Rhea-AI Summary

Vedanta Biosciences has appointed Simona Levi, Ph.D., J.D., as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary. With over 25 years of legal experience in the life sciences sector, including roles at Biogen and Cell Signaling Technology, Dr. Levi is expected to enhance Vedanta's legal framework as it develops oral therapies targeting the microbiome. Her appointment aligns with Vedanta's vision to innovate in drug delivery systems. The company holds over 40 patents and is recognized for its extensive library of beneficial bacteria.

Positive

• Appointment of Simona Levi as Chief Legal Officer brings over 25 years of relevant experience in the life sciences sector.
• Dr. Levi's background includes leadership roles at Biogen and Cell Signaling Technology, potentially enhancing corporate governance and legal strategies.
• Vedanta's focus on microbiome therapies positions it strongly in a promising and rapidly evolving market.

Negative

• The transition to new leadership may create uncertainty regarding continuity in ongoing legal matters and corporate strategy.

Extensive legal experience with private and public biotech companies including Biogen, IVAX Corporation and Cell Signaling Technology

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vedanta Biosciences, a clinical-stage company that is developing a potential new category of oral therapies based on defined bacterial consortia, today announced the appointment of Simona Levi, Ph.D., J.D., as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary. Dr. Levi brings over 25 years of United States and international legal experience with private and public companies across the life sciences industry focusing on complex transactions, intellectual property law and litigation, and corporate governance.

“Simona’s deep legal experience and proven track record in the life sciences industry will be critical as we execute on our vision to enable a new class of drugs in the microbiome field,” said Bernat Olle, Ph.D., co-Founder and chief executive officer of Vedanta Biosciences. “We are excited to welcome Simona to the Vedanta team and look forward to her contributions.”

Dr. Levi joins Vedanta from Cell Signaling Technology (CST), Inc., where she served as the general counsel and corporate secretary managing all legal matters including assisting with the formation of the company’s global subsidiaries and structuring all financial transactions. Dr. Levi spent more than 25 years working as legal counsel for corporate and intellectual property matters in the life sciences industry. Most notably, she was a partner at the law firm McDermott Will & Emery, served as director of neurology for Biogen, and was a senior IP counsel for IVAX Corporation.

Dr. Levi has a B.A. in biochemistry and economics, a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Rutgers University and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Dr. Levi has been a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association since 1995.

“With the recent activity and interest in the microbiome field, it has become clear that Vedanta has shown great promise in pioneering defined bacterial consortia as a new class of therapeutics,” said Dr. Levi. “Vedanta has assembled a talented and dedicated team and I am thrilled to be joining such a dynamic company at this pivotal stage of its growth.”

About Vedanta Biosciences
Vedanta Biosciences is leading the development of a potential new category of oral therapies based on defined consortia of bacteria isolated from the human microbiome and grown from pure clonal cell banks. The company’s clinical-stage pipeline includes product candidates being evaluated for the treatment of high-risk C. difficile infection, inflammatory bowel diseases, advanced or metastatic cancers, and food allergy. These investigational therapies are grounded in pioneering research – published in leading journals including Science, Nature, and Cell – to identify beneficial bacteria that live symbiotically within the healthy human gut, fight pathogens and induce a range of potent immune responses. Vedanta Biosciences controls a foundational portfolio of more than 40 patents and has built what it believes to be the world’s biggest library of bacteria derived from the human microbiome. Proprietary capabilities include deep expertise in consortium design, vast datasets from human interventional studies and cGMP-compliant manufacturing of oral live biotherapeutic candidates containing pure, clonally derived bacterial consortia in powdered form. Vedanta Biosciences was founded by PureTech Health (Nasdaq: PRTC, LSE: PRTC) and a global team of scientific co-founders who pioneered Vedanta’s modern understanding of the cross-talk between the microbiome and the immune system.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211014005266/en/

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Source: Vedanta Biosciences

FAQ

What is the significance of Simona Levi's appointment at Vedanta Biosciences?

Simona Levi's appointment as Chief Legal Officer is significant as she brings extensive legal expertise in the life sciences field, which may strengthen Vedanta's corporate governance and legal frameworks.

What are Simona Levi's previous roles before joining Vedanta Biosciences?

Before joining Vedanta, Simona Levi served as general counsel at Cell Signaling Technology and held senior legal positions at Biogen and IVAX Corporation.

How does Vedanta Biosciences plan to leverage Simona Levi's experience?

Vedanta plans to leverage Dr. Levi's experience to navigate complex legal landscapes and enhance its corporate governance as it develops new microbiome-based therapies.

What is Vedanta Biosciences' focus in the biotechnology sector?

Vedanta is focused on developing oral therapies based on defined bacterial consortia to treat conditions such as C. difficile infections and inflammatory bowel diseases.

How many patents does Vedanta Biosciences hold?

Vedanta Biosciences controls over 40 patents related to its microbiome research and therapeutic developments.