enGene Appoints Joan Connolly as Chief Technology Officer and Anthony Cheung, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer
October 21 2024 - 8:45AM
Business Wire
enGene Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ENGN or “enGene” or the
“Company”), a clinical-stage genetic medicines company whose
non-viral lead investigational product detalimogene voraplasmid
(also known as detalimogene, and previously EG-70) is in an ongoing
pivotal study in patients with high-risk, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin
(BCG)-unresponsive, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with
carcinoma in situ (Cis), today announced the appointment of Joan
Connolly as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and member of the
corporate leadership team. In addition, enGene Co-Founder and
former CTO, Anthony Cheung, Ph.D., will transition to the role of
Chief Scientific Officer, succeeding James Sullivan, MSc, Ph.D.
Ms. Connolly’s career spans more than 30 years, with experience
across CMC development for large and small molecules, manufacturing
management, regulatory filings, and product commercialization, as
well as supply chain, logistics and sourcing, and procurement. Ms.
Connolly has extensive experience filing submissions for regulatory
approval and product launches. In her most recent role, Ms.
Connolly served as Chief Technology Officer of Albireo Pharma,
Inc., where she oversaw drug substance and product development,
clinical supply distribution, commercial supply chain and quality.
Prior to Albireo, she held senior roles at Stemline Therapeutics,
Inc., ImClone Systems Inc., and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joan to the enGene team. She brings
significant experience in managing the technical operations
required to drive a late-stage clinical asset through to
commercialization, which will be critical as we complete the
pivotal portion of the LEGEND study of detalimogene and anticipate
filing our BLA in mid-2026,” said Ron Cooper, Chief Executive
Officer of enGene.
“I am excited to join enGene at this critical juncture.
Detalimogene’s highly differentiated, non-viral DDX formulation and
easily scalable manufacturing process are designed to offer
significant advantages over other therapies available and in
development,” said Ms. Connolly. “Recent preliminary data from
LEGEND’s pivotal arm underscore detalimogene’s future potential as
a foundational therapy for the many NMIBC patients in need of new
therapeutic options.”
Dr. Cheung is a co-founder of enGene and has served in various
capacities since the Company’s inception. He has been central to
the discovery and development of the Company’s novel and
proprietary Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan (DDX) platform and in
the creation of detalimogene. He has co-authored numerous book
chapters, review articles and peer-reviewed journals, and is a
named inventor on numerous patents in the areas of gene therapy and
polymer chemistry.
“Having developed enGene’s DDX technology from the ground up,
Anthony is intimately familiar with the science and well-suited to
drive future expansion of our DDX platform,” said Ron Cooper. “We
are grateful to Dr. Sullivan for his meaningful contributions in
advancing detalimogene and wish him luck in his future
endeavors.”
About enGene
enGene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company mainstreaming
genetic medicines through the delivery of therapeutics to mucosal
tissues and other organs, with the goal of creating new ways to
address diseases with high clinical needs. enGene’s lead program is
detalimogene voraplasmid, (also known as detalimogene, and
previously EG-70) for patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder
Cancer (NMIBC) – a disease with a high clinical burden.
Detalimogene is being evaluated in the ongoing multi-cohort LEGEND
Phase 2 study, which includes a pivotal cohort studying
detalimogene in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive
patients with carcinoma in situ (Cis). Detalimogene was developed
using enGene’s proprietary Dually Derivatized Oligochitosan (DDX)
platform, which enables penetration of mucosal tissues and delivery
of a wide range of sizes and types of cargo, including DNA and
various forms of RNA. For more information, visit enGene.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements contained in this press release may
constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995, and “forward-looking information” within the meaning
of Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking
statements”). enGene’s forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, statements regarding enGene’s expectations, hopes,
beliefs, intentions, goals, strategies, forecasts and projections.
The words “anticipate”, “appear”, “approximate”, “believe”,
“continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “foresee”, “intend”,
“may”, “might”, “plan”, “possible”, “potential”, “predict”,
“project”, “seek”, “should”, “would”, and similar expressions may
identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words
does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements may include, for example, statements
about: our expectations regarding regulatory submissions, our
beliefs as to the potential benefits of detalimogene, and our
expectations regarding the potential broad adoption of
detalimogene.
Many factors, risks, uncertainties and assumptions could cause
the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements, including, without limitation, that preliminary
clinical data may not accurately reflect the complete results of a
particular study and remain subject to audit and verification, and
final data may differ materially from preliminary data; the
Company’s ability to recruit and retain qualified scientific and
management personnel; establish clinical trial sites and enroll
patients in its clinical trials; execute on the Company’s clinical
development plans and ability to secure regulatory approval on
anticipated timelines; and other risks and uncertainties detailed
in filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR+ and with
the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on EDGAR,
including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
October 31, 2023 and most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2024 (copies of which may be
obtained at www.sedarplus.ca or www.sec.gov).
You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made.
enGene anticipates that subsequent events and developments will
cause enGene’s assessments to change. While enGene may elect to
update these forward-looking statements at some point in the
future, enGene specifically disclaims any obligation to do so,
unless required by applicable law. Nothing in this press release
should be regarded as a representation by any person that the
forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or
that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking
statements will be achieved.
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