Paris, France, May 6th, 2014 – GenSight Biologics, a pioneer of innovative gene therapy based solutions to preserve or restore vision in people with degenerative retinal and inherited ophthalmologic diseases, announces the appointment of Jean-Philippe Combal as Chief Operating Officer (“COO”). Dr Combal will lead the Company’s operational activities and the development of its products.
GenSight’s lead product, GS010, is a gene replacement therapy currently being investigated in a Phase 1 clinical study to treat Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a rare mitochondrial disease that leads to irreversible and often brutal sight loss in teens and young adults and for which there is no treatment available. GenSight is also developing an optogenetic therapy approach to restore vision in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative condition of the retina that leads to blindness. Optogenetics is a gene therapy based approach designed to re-sensitize dysfunctional photoreceptor cells in the retina by introducing photosensitive proteins using viral vectors.
Dr Combal has 23 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He worked at Fovea Pharmaceuticals from
2006 to 2011, as Vice President, Director of Development, where he was instrumental in the development of all products leading to Fovea’s acquisition by Sanofi in 2009. He then held the position of Vice President, Strategic Marketing for the Ophthalmic Division of Fovea-Sanofi with responsibility for a portfolio of ophthalmic products. Since 2011, Dr Combal was at Galderma International leading strategic marketing of early projects up to phase 2b and portfolio development for its Dermatology Strategic Therapeutic Area. Prior to this he worked at Servier, Pierre-Fabre Medicament, Fournier-Solvay Pharma and ExonHit Therapeutics. He holds a PharmD and PhD from Paris XI & Paris V University, respectively, and a business degree from ESCP Strategic Marketing & General Management Program from CEDEP-INSEAD.
Commenting on his appointment, Dr Combal said: “Gene therapy for ophthalmological diseases is a fascinating field with breakthrough innovation providing significant opportunities to address patients and physicians unmet needs. I am excited to be working with Bernard Gilly again, with the GenSight team and with our partners to advance our innovative products into and through clinical development as efficiently as possible.”
Dr Bernard Gilly, Executive Chairman of GenSight, added: “Jean-Philippe brings a wealth of experience in the development of innovative therapies for ophthalmological diseases. His arrival significantly strengthens our product and strategic development team during what is a very exciting period as the Company conducts its first clinical study with lead product GS010 in LHON.”
About GenSight Biologics
GenSight Biologics is an early clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering the development of gene therapy based solutions to preserve or restore vision in people with degenerative retinal and inherited ophthalmologic diseases. The Company is developing its lead product, GS010, in a Phase 1 clinical study as the first gene replacement therapy for vision loss in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare mitochondrial disease that leads to irreversible and often brutal sight loss in teens and young adults and for which there is no treatment available.
GenSight is also developing an innovative optogenetic therapy approach to restore vision in patients with very low vision or total blindness caused by retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative condition of the retina. Optogenetics is a gene therapy based approach designed to re-sensitize dysfunctional photoreceptor cells in the retina by introducing photosensitive proteins using viral vectors.
GenSight was created in Paris, France in 2012 and is located on the campus of the Institut de la Vision. The Company leverages breakthrough research from leading academic groups in Europe and the US. GenSight has raised €35 M in Series A financing from blue-chip European venture capital firms (Abingworth LLP, Novartis Venture Fund, Versant Ventures and Index Ventures) and the French Rare Diseases Seed Fund.
For more information, please visit : www.gensight-biologics.com