Dr. Larry Couture Named CEO Of Orbsen Therapeutics

NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Jack Kavanaugh, Chairman of Orbsen Therapeutics (http://www.orbsentherapeutics.com/), announced today the appointment of Larry Couture, PhD, as CEO. "Dr. Couture brings a remarkable background in cellular and genetic therapeutics with industry leading experience in both the scientific and business development of leading edge therapeutics," said Kavanaugh. He added, "His industry experience at Genzyme and institutional experience at City of Hope will be a tremendous asset to Orbsen."

Dr. Couture is joining Orbsen as it makes the important transition into a clinical stage company with its leading technology in stem cell therapy planned to enter into five different European funded clinical trials, including diabetic wound healing, diabetic nephropathy, acute respiratory distress syndrome and primary sclerosing cholangitis (including cirrhosis).

Larry Couture stated, "What impressed me was the efficacy of the Orbsen stem cell technology in pre-clinical models of multiple diseases. They are developing a technology with the potential to treat patients with a variety of diseases that is very exciting.  Having spent the past 20 years developing cell therapies like Orbsen's, this makes it a perfect fit for me."

Steve Elliman, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer said, "We are both fortunate and delighted to welcome Dr. Larry Couture as our CEO and member of the Orbsen Board. This is a very exciting time for Orbsen, as we enter four clinical trials in the next 12 months. Dr. Couture's depth of cell therapy knowledge and unequalled practical experience of cell and gene therapy trials will drive Orbsen through this exciting time.  We're absolutely thrilled that Larry has decided to join Orbsen, and I look forward to working with him to establish ORBCEL as a best-in-class stromal cell therapy."

Professor Timothy O'Brien, M.D., a Founder of Orbsen and recognized as an international expert on vascular wall gene delivery, said, "I am thrilled to welcome Larry as CEO of Orbsen Therapeutics.  I have been familiar with and hugely impressed by Larry's work for over two decades, and believe that the company is indeed fortunate to have recruited such a visionary leader.  I am confident that the company will thrive under his stewardship." 

Since his return to Ireland in July 2001, as Professor and Chairman of Medicine and Consultant Physician in Endocrinology and Metabolism at University College Hospital Galway, Prof. O'Brien has established a gene therapy research group, is Director of the Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), a SFI-funded CSET, and played a key role in establishment of the Clinical Research Facility.

About Orbsen Therapeutics: Orbsen Therapeutics Ltd is a privately held company and was originally founded in 2006 as a spin out from Ireland's Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI) in NUI Galway. Since then, Orbsen has developed proprietary technologies (ORB1) that enables the isolation of pure and therapeutic stromal cells from human tissues. These therapeutic (ORB1+) cells can be purified from a single donor, expanded and frozen to generate many doses of a high-margin, "off-the-shelf" therapeutic product for indications with unmet need. 

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SOURCE Orbsen Therapeutics