NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ovid Therapeutics Inc. (Ovid), a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for rare and orphan diseases of the brain, announced today the appointment of Karen Bernstein, Ph.D., to the Company’s Board of Directors. Dr. Bernstein is widely known and recognized for co-founding and shaping BioCentury Publications Inc. into one of the most highly regarded sources of industrial intelligence and news of the Global BioPharmaceutical Industry.
"Karen has been instrumental in charting and interpreting the growth and evolution of the biotechnology industry. Her work and that of BioCentury is iconic,” said Dr. Jeremy Levin, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Ovid. “Her intellect, perspectives, and deep knowledge of the life science industry will be tremendous additions to our Board’s deliberations. We are privileged that she has joined Ovid’s board.”
Dr. Bernstein co-founded BioCentury in 1992 alongside President and CEO David Flores, with the goal of delivering the essential clinical, regulatory, and finance news shaping the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Under their leadership, BioCentury became a key independent source of intelligence for a global audience of biopharmaceutical executives, investors, regulators, and public policy influencers.
Dr. Bernstein commented, “I have had the great pleasure to know the members of Ovid’s team over many years, and it is very exciting to see this group come together in forming a new company that I believe will make a major difference for patients with rare and orphan diseases of the brain. Recent scientific insights in CNS diseases open new avenues for the development of important new drugs. Ovid is uniquely suited to become a major player in this area. I very much look forward to being a part of the company’s progress and success.”
Dr. Bernstein stepped down from her role as Editor-in-Chief in August, but will continue serving as BioCentury’s Chairman. In addition to joining Ovid’s board of directors, Dr. Bernstein has also joined the board of Vitae Pharmaceuticals. She currently serves as a trustee of the Keck Graduate Institute of the Applied Life Sciences and is a member of the Keck Graduate Institute School of Pharmacy’s board of advisors. Dr. Bernstein earned a Ph.D. in political science from Stanford University and a B.A. in politics and history from Brandeis University.
About Ovid Therapeutics Inc.
Ovid Therapeutics Inc. is a privately held, New York-based, biopharmaceutical company committed to transforming the lives of patients with rare and orphan diseases of the brain. Ovid focuses on patients and their unmet medical needs. Using the significant operational, product development and business development experience of its management team, Ovid aims to become a leading neurology company, with multiple products and a rich pipeline, coupled with compelling research and development. Ovid recently completed a substantially oversubscribed $75 Million Series B financing led by Fidelity Management and Research Company and including Cowen Private Investments, Sanofi-Genzyme BioVentures, Tekla Capital Management, Sphera Global Healthcare Fund, Jennison Associates (on behalf of certain clients), Redmile Group, and Cormorant Asset Management, as well as additional blue chip mutual funds and leading life sciences investors.
For more information on Ovid, please visit http://www.ovidrx.com.
