Paris, France, July 6, 2015 – GenSight Biologics S.A. (GenSight), a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel therapies for mitochondrial and neurodegenerative diseases of the eye, and in the future, of the central nervous system, announced the appointments of Thomas Gidoin as Chief Financial Officer and Michael Wyzga as Independent Director. In this role, Mr. Gidoin is responsible for the company’s corporate and financial development strategies and operations, and will report to Dr. Bernard Gilly, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of GenSight
“We are delighted to welcome Thomas to our expanding team, to help lead our corporate and financial strategy and operations as we enter this vital period of growth for the company,” said Dr. Gilly. “In addition, Michael Wyzga brings extensive industry expertise in finance and corporate strategy to our team. Their arrival will contribute immensely to the Company’s strategic development during this very exciting period.”
Mr. Gidoin brings significant corporate finance and leadership experience to GenSight. Since 2012, he led the Corporate Finance team at DBV Technologies, participating in public offerings and private placements, including the dual listing of the company on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Prior to that, he worked at Ipsen from 2008 to 2011, as a Senior Financial Analyst within the Group Operations division and later as UK Operations Controller in London. Mr. Gidoin holds Master’s degrees in International Finance from ESGF Paris and in International Management from Neoma Business School in France.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Gidoin said: “I am excited to be working with the GenSight team at this critical time for the company and the field of gene therapy research. GenSight has a very promising product pipeline, with the beginning of pivotal development for our lead product candidate GS010 for the treatment of Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) in the second half of 2015. I look forward to contributing towards its future success.”
Mr. Wyzga is currently a biotechnology consultant and has extensive experience in the biotechnology industry. From 2011 to 2013, he was the President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of
Directors of Radius Health, Inc. Prior to that, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Genzyme, where he worked for 12 years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Oncomed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. and of Exact Sciences Corp.; Mr Wyzga received an M.B.A. from Providence College and a B.S. from Suffolk University.
“It’s an exciting time to be joining GenSight’s impressive board of directors, and I look forward to working with the company as they intend to leverage their impressive gene therapy-based technologies to develop important new therapies for patients with mitochondrial eye diseases, where there remains a significant unmet need,” Mr. Wyzga said.
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About GenSight Biologics
GenSight Biologics S.A. (GenSight) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing novel therapies for mitochondrial and neurodegenerative diseases of the eye, and in the future, of the central nervous system. GenSight’s integrated development includes two core technology platforms, mitochondrial targeting sequence (MTS) and optogenetics, to help preserve or restore vision in patients with severe retinal diseases. GenSight’s lead product, GS010, is poised to enter a pivotal Phase III trial for vision loss in Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), a rare mitochondrial disease that leads to irreversible sight loss in teens and young adults. Using its gene-therapy-based approach, GenSight’s product candidates are designed to be administered in a single treatment to each eye by intravitreal or subretinal injection in order to provide patients with a long-lasting functional cure, potentially for the rest of their lives.
For more information: www.gensight-biologics.com