CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Beam Therapeutics, a biotechnology company developing precision genetic medicines through base editing, today announced the appointment of Graham Cooper to the company’s board of directors.
“Graham brings significant experience leading biotech companies through rapid growth, and we are thrilled to welcome him to our board of directors,” said John Evans, chief executive officer of Beam Therapeutics. “As we continue to grow and progress our lead programs toward clinical development, his expertise in financial operations and capital markets strategy will be invaluable.”
Mr. Cooper was previously the chief financial officer and chief operating officer of Assembly Biosciences, a biotechnology company developing innovative therapeutics targeting hepatitis B virus. Prior to joining Assembly, he was chief financial officer of Receptos, from 2013 until its sale in 2015 to Celgene. Previously, Mr. Cooper was the chief financial officer of Geron Corporation, and from 2006 until 2011, served as chief financial officer of Orexigen Therapeutics. From 1999 to 2006, Mr. Cooper held positions of increasing responsibility including director of healthcare investment banking at Deutsche Bank Securities, where he was responsible for executing and managing a wide variety of financing and merger and acquisition transactions in the life sciences field. From 1992 to 1995, he worked as an accountant at Deloitte & Touche, where he earned his C.P.A. (currently inactive). Mr. Cooper is a member of the boards of directors of other public companies including Unity Biotechnology and Kezar Life Sciences. Mr. Cooper holds a B.A. in economics from the University of California at Berkeley and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
“Beam’s unique base editing approach has the potential to transform the way many diseases are treated today,” said Mr. Cooper. “I am inspired by the team and the science at Beam and the opportunity to create important new treatment options for patients. I look forward to working with the team and helping to guide them through their next phase of development.”
About Beam Therapeutics
Beam Therapeutics is developing precision genetic medicines through base editing. Founded by leading scientists in CRISPR gene editing, Beam is pursuing therapies for serious diseases using its proprietary base editing technology, which can make precise edits to single base pairs in DNA and RNA. Beam is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. For additional information, visit www.BeamTx.com.
