Cambridge, UK, 30 November 2011. Kymab, a biopharmaceutical company developing a next generation human-mouse therapeutic antibody platform, today announced the appointment of Professor Allan Bradley, FRS, as Chief Scientific Officer, and the retirement of Dr Mike Owen. Dr Owen has served as the company’s CSO since formation and will now serve as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board. Professor Bradley founded Kymab in 2009 and is a Senior Group Leader and Director Emeritus of The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute. Professor Bradley will continue his appointment and academic projects at the Sanger Institute. Kymab is developing a proprietary genomically engineered Kymouse™ platform, which is designed to capture the entire diversity of the B lymphocyte component of the human immune system. The company will use the platform to discover novel monoclonal antibody-based medicines through internal programmes and corporate partnering.
Andrew Sandham, Chairman & CEO, said “We would like to thank Mike for his valuable contribution to establishing Kymab’s R&D operations during the start-up stage. We are delighted that Allan has joined the executive team and we will continue to benefit from his continuing leadership of the Mouse Genomics Team at the Sanger Institute.”
Allan Bradley, Chief Scientific Officer, said “The progress of the Kymab mouse project has been extraordinary under Mike’s guiding hand. I am delighted to have the opportunity to increase my involvement with Kymab and lead its R&D activities through the next stage of growth. We are currently validating our Kymouse™ platform and evaluating disease and drug target areas, in readiness for starting antibody drug discovery projects next year “
About Kymab
Kymab was founded in 2009 based on research in the field of human immunology and mouse biology at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in the laboratory of Professor Allan Bradley. The company is using embryonic stem cell technology to develop its Kymouse™ platform, which encompasses the entire diversity of the B lymphocyte component of the human immune system, and has the potential for expansion of diversity beyond normal human immune response. The Kymouse™ will be used by Kymab for the discovery, development and commercialisation of antibody-based medicines.
Contact:
Andrew Sandham, Chairman & CEO
andrew.sandham@kymab.com
+44-0-1223-833301
