MENLO PARK, Calif. & DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ReCode Therapeutics™ (ReCode) (the Company), a private biopharmaceutical company pioneering precision medicines for life-limiting respiratory diseases, today announced two key executive appointments. Mukul Agarwal has been named chief business officer, leading the Company’s corporate growth strategy, business development and partnership opportunities. Vladimir G. Kharitonov, Ph.D., has been named senior vice president, chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC), overseeing clinical and commercial manufacturing including CMC and regulatory strategies. In addition, Brandon A. Wustman, Ph.D., has been promoted to senior vice president, research & development, with responsibility for the leadership and execution of the Company’s global R&D strategy.
“Mukul and Vladimir are accomplished biotech executives who bring deep industry experience and comprehensive expertise to ReCode,” said David Lockhart, Ph.D., CEO and president, ReCode Therapeutics. “Along with Brandon, they share our team’s passion to advance our lead programs into the clinic and transform the lives of patients. With their leadership and the continued support of our investors, we’ve taken another step in bringing potentially disease-modifying medicines to patients with genetic respiratory diseases.”
Mr. Agarwal has over 20 years of experience in corporate development, financing, strategy, and commercial operations. Mr. Agrawal’s experience includes assessment, diligence, negotiation, contracts, and alliances across a range of transactions such as M&A, regional and global product licensing, research and clinical collaborations, IP licensing, commercial distribution and manufacturing agreements. Prior to joining ReCode, Mr. Agarwal was vice president of corporate development at Forty Seven, Inc. (acquired by Gilead). Before Forty Seven, he held the roles of vice president, business development at Revance, and as senior director, corporate development and strategy at Anacor (acquired by Pfizer), and director, global BD&L at Forest Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Allergan, now AbbVie). He received his M.B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University, M.S. from Ohio State University, and B. Tech. from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi.
Dr. Kharitonov is an accomplished biotech executive with more than 25 years of experience in pharmaceutical research and development, operational management, engineering and commercial manufacturing of pharmaceutical drug products. Prior to joining ReCode Therapeutics, he held positions of increasing responsibility at Pacira Pharmaceuticals from 2000 through 2020 including vice president of research and development since 2010. Dr. Kharitonov received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Moscow State University and was a visiting scientist and held a faculty position at the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. He has published more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific articles on mechanisms of chemical reactions, biochemistry and biochemical kinetics.
Dr. Wustman is a seasoned R&D executive with a nearly 20-year career across many phases of R&D including discovery, clinical development, and the launch of new therapeutic platforms. Prior to joining ReCode Therapeutics (and its predecessor, TranscripTx) in 2015, he had positions of increasing responsibility, including Senior Director, Preclinical Biology, at Amicus Therapeutics from 2002 to 2014. Dr. Wustman received his B.S. and Ph.D. from Michigan Technological University. He was an Alexandar Humboldt Fellow at the University of Cologne, Germany and a postdoctoral fellow at New York University from 2000 to 2002. Dr. Wustman has published more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific articles and is also the inventor on nine issued U.S. patents.
About ReCode Therapeutics
ReCode Therapeutics is an integrated genetic medicines company developing targeted, disease-modifying therapies for patients with life-limiting respiratory diseases. The Company’s diverse pipeline includes lead programs for cystic fibrosis (CF) caused by nonsense mutations, and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). ReCode has developed a non-viral delivery therapeutic platform that enables it to precisely deliver its medicines safely and effectively. The Company is leveraging its lipid nanoparticle and nucleic acid technologies across multiple modalities, including mRNA-mediated replacement therapies, first-in-class tRNA NanoCorrectors for diseases caused by nonsense mutations, and gene editing. For more information, visit www.recodetx.com.
