CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dimension Therapeutics, a gene therapy company focused on developing novel treatments for rare diseases, today announced that Annalisa Jenkins, MBBS, MRCP has been appointed as chief executive officer. Dr. Jenkins succeeds interim chief executive officer, Thomas Beck, M.D.
Dr. Jenkins brings to Dimension nearly 20 years of experience in building and leading teams that advanced programs from scientific research through clinical development, regulatory approval and into healthcare systems globally. Prior to joining Dimension, Dr. Jenkins served as executive vice president, head of global research and development for Merck Serono, where she also led global medical affairs and quality.
“Annalisa is a passionate and energetic leader with a proven track record of successfully translating exciting science from the bench to the bedside,” said Ben Auspitz, chairman and co-founder of Dimension and partner at Fidelity Biosciences. “Over the past year, under Tom’s leadership, Dimension has made important progress, including our recent hemophilia A partnership with Bayer, which is the largest single target adeno-associated virus gene therapy collaboration to date, and the addition of OrbiMed to our investor syndicate. With that solid foundation upon which to build, we look forward to Annalisa utilizing her deep experience in R&D, medical affairs and organizational leadership to rapidly advance Dimension’s goal of bringing novel gene therapies to patients with rare diseases.”
Prior to Merck Serono, Dr. Jenkins held several roles of increasing responsibility at Bristol Myers-Squibb (BMS). During her tenure at BMS, she made significant contributions to the progression and approval of a number of key pipeline programs, including Eliquis®, Orencia®, Sprycel®, Yervoy®, Erbitux®, Abilify® and Plavix®. She also played a key role in the implementation of BMS’s business development strategy, including the acquisition of Medarex and major partnerships with Pfizer and Astra Zeneca.
“Over the last several years, gene therapy has emerged as a promising novel approach to addressing serious diseases that need new and better treatment options. I am thrilled to be joining Dimension at this moment in time for such an exciting field of science,” said Dr. Jenkins. “Dimension has built a highly experienced and capable team around impressive science from the REGENX Biosciences platform and a strong collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania. The company is well financed and with the ongoing collaboration with Bayer, is in a strong position to advance its programs into the clinic in the next 12 months. I look forward to building and leading the team, working with our partners and delivering on our goal to realize the promise of gene therapy for patients."
Dr. Jenkins currently serves as chair of the board of Transcelerate Biopharma Inc. and as a member of the board of directors of Biothera and Prosensa. She also serves on the board of Women in Bio, the UK Task Force for the Center for Talent Innovation and The Concert Artists Guild of New York. She was named both the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association and IIR Partnerships’ Woman of the Year in 2014. Dr. Jenkins graduated with a degree in medicine from St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in the University of London and subsequently trained in cardiovascular medicine in the UK National Health Service. Earlier in her career, Dr. Jenkins served as a medical officer in the British Royal Navy during the Gulf Conflict in 1991 and subsequently rose to the rank of surgeon lieutenant commander.
About Dimension Therapeutics
Dimension Therapeutics is a gene therapy company focused on developing novel therapies to treat rare diseases. Formed in 2013 by REGENX Biosciences and Fidelity Biosciences, the Dimension team comprises biotech industry veterans and renowned thought leaders in gene therapy and rare diseases. The company is focused on building its adeno-associated virus (AAV) therapeutic capabilities and advancing multiple gene therapy programs in rare diseases, including a hemophilia A program through its collaboration with Bayer HealthCare, and a wholly-owned hemophilia B program, towards clinical development. Dimension has exclusive gene therapy intellectual property and preferred access to multiple best-in-class AAV vectors based on REGENX’s NAV® technology. Dimension is backed by leading investors Fidelity Biosciences and OrbiMed. For more information, please visit www.dimensiontx.com.
