Sarepta Therapeutics Names Louise Rodino-Klapac, Ph.D., Head of Research and Development
Sarepta Therapeutics (NASDAQ:SRPT) has announced a leadership transition, appointing Louise Rodino-Klapac, Ph.D., as head of research and development (R&D) effective immediately. She continues her role as chief scientific officer, following the departure of Gilmore O’Neill, who will serve as a consultant through March 31, 2022. Dr. Rodino-Klapac has been instrumental in the advancement of Sarepta’s gene therapy platform. Under O’Neill’s leadership, the R&D team achieved significant milestones, including the approval of RNA-based therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the initiation of pivotal trials.
- Appointment of Louise Rodino-Klapac as head of R&D, signaling continuity in leadership.
- Successful track record under Gilmore O’Neill, including multiple RNA therapy approvals.
- Strong pipeline with over 40 programs in various development stages.
- Leadership transitions can lead to uncertainty and potential disruptions to operations.
- Gilmore O’Neill, M.B., M.M.Sc., will depart the Company and serve in a consulting capacity through March 31, 2022
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Nov. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRPT), the leader in precision genetic medicine for rare diseases, today announced that, effective immediately, Louise Rodino-Klapac, Ph.D., executive vice president and chief scientific officer, has been named the Company’s head of research and development (R&D) and will continue to serve in the role of chief scientific officer. Gilmore O’Neill, M.B., M.M.Sc., who has served as head of R&D since 2018, will leave the Company at the end of November and remain in a consulting capacity until March 31, 2022.
“Dr. Rodino-Klapac has been central to our efforts around the discovery and development of Sarepta’s gene therapy platform and was an early collaborator in the development of RNA-based therapies as a therapeutic option for patients with rare diseases,” said Doug Ingram, president and chief executive officer, Sarepta. “Her exceptional command of our core therapeutic platforms in RNA, gene therapy, and gene editing, and the strength of her scientific leadership has been and will be instrumental as Sarepta advances its industry-leading pipeline of genetic medicines.
“Dr. Rodino-Klapac inherits a strong research and development function. Dr. O’Neill led our research and development function during a period of enormous expansion and multiple successes, including approvals of our second and third RNA-based therapies for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and the commencement of pivotal trials for our lead candidates in both our next-generation RNA platform and our gene therapy platform,” added Mr. Ingram. “On behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank Dr. O’Neill for all of his contributions to Sarepta and to the patient communities we serve.”
About Sarepta Therapeutics
Sarepta is on an urgent mission: engineer precision genetic medicine for rare diseases that devastate lives and cut futures short. We hold leadership positions in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and limb-girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMDs), and we currently have more than 40 programs in various stages of development. Our vast pipeline is driven by our multi-platform Precision Genetic Medicine Engine in gene therapy, RNA and gene editing. For more information, please visit www.sarepta.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Any statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Words such as "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will," "intends," "potential," "possible" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the potential benefits related to the announced leadership transition and Sarepta’s potential to advance its industry-leading pipeline of genetic medicines.
These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Sarepta’s control. Known risk factors include, among others: leadership transitions can be inherently difficult to manage and may cause uncertainty or a disruption to Sarepta’s business or may increase the likelihood of turnover in other key officers and employees; Sarepta may not be able to execute on its business plans and goals, including meeting its expected or planned regulatory milestones and timelines, clinical development plans, and bringing its product candidates to market, due to a variety of reasons, many of which may be outside of Sarepta’s control, including possible limitations of company financial and other resources, manufacturing limitations that may not be anticipated or resolved for in a timely manner, regulatory, court or agency decisions, such as decisions by the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to patents that cover Sarepta’s product candidates and the COVID-19 pandemic; and those risks identified under the heading “Risk Factors” in Sarepta’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as other SEC filings made by Sarepta which you are encouraged to review.
Any of the foregoing risks could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and the trading price of Sarepta’s common stock. For a detailed description of risks and uncertainties Sarepta faces, you are encouraged to review the SEC filings made by Sarepta. We caution investors not to place considerable reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Sarepta does not undertake any obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements based on events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law.
Internet Posting of Information
We routinely post information that may be important to investors in the 'For Investors' section of our website at www.sarepta.com. We encourage investors and potential investors to consult our website regularly for important information about us.
Source: Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc.
Investor Contact:
Ian Estepan, 617-274-4052
iestepan@sarepta.com
Media Contact:
Tracy Sorrentino, 617-301-8566
tsorrentino@sarepta.com
FAQ
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