BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Caribou Biosciences, Inc., a leading genome engineering company, announced today that Steven B. Kanner, Ph.D. has joined the Company as Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Kanner brings more than 25 years of experience in drug discovery and development and will lead Caribou’s research and development of new applications for its gene editing technology.
“We are delighted to welcome such a well-respected and talented scientist as Steve to our team,” said Rachel Haurwitz, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Caribou. “Caribou is continuing to make exciting progress in our gene editing technology development and Steve's wealth of experience will help further accelerate our efforts."
During his career, Dr. Kanner has held a number of research leadership roles at prominent life sciences organizations, including Bristol-Myers Squibb, Astex Pharmaceuticals, and Agensys/Astellas Pharma. Most recently, Dr. Kanner served as Vice President of Discovery Biology at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, where he helped lead the discovery and development of novel RNAi-based therapeutics for oncology and genetic disease programs. During his time at Bristol-Myers Squibb, he facilitated a discovery program ultimately leading to the development and launch of Sprycel® (dasatinib), a treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia.
Dr. Kanner graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in genetics and received his Ph.D. in immunology and microbiology from the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Kanner completed his postdoctoral fellowship in oncology at the University of Virginia’s Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology.
“I am thrilled to join Caribou at such an exciting time for the Company and the field of CRISPR gene editing,” said Dr. Kanner. “There is an exceptional team of researchers already assembled at Caribou and I’m excited to help the Company build upon its leadership position in translating the promise of CRISPR gene editing for patients and society at large.”
Dr. Kanner joins Barbara McClung, J.D., Chief Legal Officer, and Dr. Haurwitz as officers of the Company.
About Caribou Biosciences
Caribou is a leading company in CRISPR genome engineering founded by pioneers of CRISPR-Cas9 biology based on research carried out in the Doudna Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley. Caribou’s tools and technologies provide transformative capabilities to therapeutic development, agricultural biotechnology, industrial biotechnology, and basic and applied biological research.
Caribou offers licenses to its CRISPR-Cas9 foundational IP in multiple fields including research tools, internal research use, diagnostics, and industrial biotechnology. Interested companies may contact Caribou at licensing@cariboubio.com.
For more information about Caribou, visit www.cariboubio.com and follow the Company @CaribouBio. “Caribou Biosciences” and the Caribou logo are registered trademarks of Caribou Biosciences, Inc.
