Adverum Biotechnologies Announces Appointment of Christopher J. Morrison, Ph.D. as Vice President, Process Science
September 15 2020 - 8:00AM
Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADVM), a clinical-stage gene
therapy company targeting unmet medical needs in ocular and rare
diseases, today announced that Christopher J. Morrison, Ph.D.
joined the company as vice president, process development,
reporting into Adverum’s chief technology officer Angela Thedinga.
“Chris brings a wealth of AAV gene therapy experience and will
lead the scale-up of our commercial manufacturing process for
ADVM-022,” said Angela Thedinga, chief technology officer of
Adverum. “We are delighted to welcome Chris at this exciting and
pivotal time as we continue to execute on our strategy to deliver
ADVM-022 to patients.”
Christopher J. Morrison, Ph.D. has 10 years of pharmaceutical
industry experience and has a background in gene therapy,
recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (rAAV) process
development, and clinical manufacturing. Most recently, he worked
with ApicBio Therapeutics as senior director, biopharmaceutical
development. Previously, he worked with Gemini Therapeutics as
senior director, CMC operations. Earlier, he worked with Voyager
Therapeutics, serving as director, biopharmaceutical development,
promoted from associate director, head of process development. At
Voyager, he directed the development and implementation of Phase
1/2 and Phase 3 manufacturing processes for multiple rAAV products
of assorted serotypes and genomic construct produced by
Sf9-Baculovirus or HEK293 transient transfection-based production
systems. Dr. Morrison began his industry career at Pfizer as a
senior scientist before being promoted to principal scientist,
responsible for downstream purification processes for a broad range
of biological molecules.
Dr. Morrison earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in Chemical and
Biological Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of
Wisconsin at Madison.
On September 14, 2020, the company granted Dr. Morrison a stock
option to purchase 100,000 shares of Adverum’s common stock
pursuant to the inducement grant exception under Nasdaq Rule
5635(c)(4), as an inducement that is material to his entering into
employment with Adverum. The option has a per share exercise price
equal to the closing sales price of Adverum’s common stock on the
Nasdaq Stock Market on the grant date, and will vest over four
years, subject to his continued service with Adverum.
About Adverum BiotechnologiesAdverum
Biotechnologies (Nasdaq: ADVM) is a clinical-stage gene therapy
company targeting unmet medical needs in serious ocular and rare
diseases. Adverum is advancing the clinical development of its
novel gene therapy candidate, ADVM-022, as a one-time, intravitreal
injection for the treatment of patients with wet age-related
macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema. For more
information, please visit www.adverum.com.
Forward-looking Statements Statements contained
in this press release regarding the events or results that may
occur in the future are “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such statements include but are not limited to statements
regarding: Adverum’s advancements of current clinical trials, and
its plans for later-stage clinical trials and growth and expansion
of its process development capabilities; and Adverum’s expectations
as to the benefits it expects from the addition of Dr. Morrison.
Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in
such forward-looking statements as a result of various risks and
uncertainties, which include risks inherent to, without limitation:
Adverum’s novel technology, which makes it difficult to predict the
time and cost of product candidate development and obtaining
regulatory approval; the results of early clinical trials not
always being predictive of future results; the potential for future
complications or side effects in connection with use of ADVM-022;
obtaining regulatory approval for gene therapy product candidates;
enrolling patients in clinical trials; reliance on third parties
for conducting the OPTIC and INFINITY trials and vector production;
the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the company’s operations
and on the company’s ongoing clinical trials; and ability to fund
operations through completion of the OPTIC and INFINITY trials and
thereafter. Risks and uncertainties facing Adverum are described
more fully in Adverum’s Form 10-Q filed with
the SEC on August 10, 2020 under the heading
“Risk Factors.” All forward-looking statements contained in this
press release speak only as of the date on which they were made.
Adverum undertakes no obligation to update such statements to
reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the
date on which they were made.
Investor and Media Inquiries:
Investors:
Myesha Lacy
Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc.
mlacy@adverum.com
1-650-649-1257
Media:
Cherilyn Cecchini, M.D.
LifeSci Communications
ccecchini@lifescicomms.com
1-646-876-5196
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