Blade Therapeutics, a leader in the fields of fibrosis, COVID-19 pathogenesis and inflammatory biology, today announced the appointment of Mark Timney as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Timney succeeds Luke Evnin, Ph.D., co-founder and Managing Director of MPM, who has served as Chairman since the founding of Blade Therapeutics in 2015. Dr. Evnin will remain a member the Board of Directors, which will expand by one member.
"Mark is a proven industry leader whose strong experience in business strategy and product commercialization will be essential as Blade’s pipeline rapidly advances through the clinical development process,” said Wendye Robbins, M.D., President and CEO of Blade. “The Board of Directors welcomes Mark and also thanks Luke for his unyielding focus and ongoing efforts.”
Mr. Timney joins Blade with more than 30 years of global health care experience serving the biopharmaceutical industry, with demonstrated results in delivering value for patients, the health care system and investors. Most recently, Mr. Timney served as CEO and Board member of The Medicines Company (NASDAQ: MDCO) until its sale for $9.7 billion to Novartis which was completed in January 2020. He has held senior roles in companies that include Merck, Purdue Pharmaceuticals, Zeneca Group, ICI Pharmaceuticals and Roussel Labs, and has led markets that include the United States, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
“I am grateful at this chance to be part of an organization committed to developing lifesaving treatments where there continues to be significant unmet need,” said Mr. Timney. “With patient needs greater than ever in the midst of unprecedented challenges, I am eager to help shape the strategic direction and success of Blade.”
“It has been an honor to serve as Chairman of the Board for Blade Therapeutics since we started this groundbreaking company,” noted Dr. Evnin. “I look forward to working with Mark to change the course of disease for millions of people impacted by the devastating effects of fibrotic diseases.”
About Blade Therapeutics
Blade Therapeutics is a private biopharmaceutical company advancing novel, highly selective small-molecule therapies to treat debilitating diseases of lung and liver fibrosis. The Company has developed a diversified small molecule portfolio, including two clinical stage assets (BLD-2660 and BLD-0409) and several preclinical stage assets, through a combination of in-house drug discovery and selective in-licensing. In March 2020, the Company initiated a clinical program to study its lead molecule (BLD-2660) in the treatment of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). A Phase 2 clinical trial of BLD-2660-204 in COVID-19 pneumonia patients is currently underway (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04334460).
Since its founding in 2015, the Company has raised approximately $90 million, including investments from Deerfield Management, MPM Capital, Pfizer Venture Investments, One Ventures, Osage University Partners and pharma strategic investments from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research. The Company has assembled critical leadership expertise supplemented by a world-class network of scientific, pharmaceutical and clinical advisors to enable efficient and successful drug development. Visit www.blademed.com for more information.
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Contacts:
Wendye Robbins, M.D., President and CEO
wrobbins@blademed.com
