CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gemini Therapeutics, a clinical stage precision medicine company developing innovative treatments for dry Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and linked ocular disorders, today announced that Marc E. Uknis MD, FACS has been appointed to serve as Chief Medical Officer, effective today. Dr. Uknis brings more than 35 years of experience in industry and academia in research programs across various areas including surgery, rare disease, immunology, genetics and infectious disease, and will lead Gemini’s clinical development activities.
“We’re very pleased to have Marc join our management team and oversee our clinical development efforts,” said Jason Meyenburg, Chief Executive Officer of Gemini. “Marc’s proven leadership and experience at the helm of successful clinical programs in immunology and rare diseases will be invaluable as we continue to advance our precision medicine pipeline for patients with dry AMD and linked diseases.”
“I am thrilled to join Gemini’s leadership team at such an exciting time,” said Dr. Uknis. “Gemini has built an unparalleled understanding of dry AMD and the genetic risks and role of complement dysfunction, and a promising and focused pipeline with its lead candidate, GEM103, in the clinic to treat a genetically selected population of dry AMD. I look forward to supporting the Company’s pursuit of a targeted first-in-class complement modulator for patients with no therapeutic options.”
Prior to Gemini, Dr. Uknis joined Achillion in 2018 as the Vice President and global Nephrology development lead for complement factor D inhibition programs, which was acquired recently by Alexion. Prior to that, he held positions of increasing responsibility with ViroPharma, ViroPharma/Shire and CSL Behring, leading clinical programs (including clinical development at all phases, medical affairs and pharmacovigilance) for immunology and complement inhibition in rare diseases, gaining alignment with global regulatory authorities for multiple accelerated approval developmental programs, and gaining global approvals for a C1 esterase inhibitor for the treatment and prevention of hereditary angioedema attacks. Dr. Uknis began his career as a bench scientist at SmithKline before attending and receiving his medical degree from Temple University Medical School and later training and graduating as a surgeon/scientist at the University of Minnesota. He has been a successful transplant surgeon at the University of Minnesota, Harvard University and University of Massachusetts, performing hundreds of kidney, liver, pancreas and small intestine transplants, as well as pancreatic islet cell transplants, before rejoining industry full time more than a decade ago.
Dr. Uknis holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from George Washington University. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, and continues to hold an adjunct associate professorship in Surgery and Molecular Genetics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He holds several patents in genetics and transplantation.
Gemini Therapeutics
Gemini Therapeutics is a clinical stage precision medicine company developing innovative treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and linked ocular disorders that are matched to specific genetic mutations found in patients with high clinical unmet need. Gemini’s lead clinical stage candidate, GEM103, is a recombinant form of the naturally occurring complement factor H protein currently in a Phase 1 trial. The company has generated a rich pipeline including recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, and gene therapies. Gemini’s CLARITY natural history study is designed to provide unprecedented insight into the role of genetic risk in common retinal diseases and began in December 2018. Gemini was launched with funding from leading life science investors and powered by academic partnerships globally.
For more information, visit www.geminitherapeutics.com.
