PARIS, Dec. 07, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lysogene, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in gene therapy for rare central nervous system diseases, appointed David Schilansky to the board of directors, as a non-executive, independent member. Mr. Schilansky, currently Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer of DBV Technologies (Euronext:DBV) (NASDAQ:DBVT), has 20 years of leadership experience in the field of biotechnology and finance.
“We welcome David to our Board, where he will help develop and oversee the implementation of Lysogene’s corporate strategy,” said Karen Aiach, CEO and Founder of Lysogene. “We look forward to leveraging his strong track record in business leadership and management as we drive forward the development of our gene therapy programs in Mucopolysaccharidosis Type A, GM1 Gangliosidosis, as well as in other life-threatening conditions.”
Deputy CEO & Chief Operating Officer of DBV Technologies, a late clinical-stage specialty biopharmaceutical company, Mr. Schilansky oversees the company’s strategic implementation. He was appointed to this role in January 2015 after serving as the Chief Financial Officer from 2011. He is a member of DBV Technologies’ Executive Committee. Previously, Mr. Schilansky held various senior positions at Ipsen Pharma, including Interim Chief Financial Officer. Earlier in his career, he worked at Thomson Inc. (now Technicolor S.A.) as co-head of investor relations and at Warburg Dillon Read (now UBS) in mergers and acquisitions.
“Lysogene is a fast-growing, innovative company with impressive achievements and strong growth potential,” said Mr. Schilansky. “I am proud to join Lysogene’s Board of Directors during this exciting transformational period for the company.”
About Mucopolysaccharidosis Type A (also known as Sanfilippo A) and GM1 Gangliosidosis:
MPS IIIA is a severe, neurological lysosomal disease caused by an autosomal recessive defect of the SGSH gene and affecting approximately 1:100,000 live births. MPS IIIA presents in early childhood, causing progressive neurodegeneration associated with intractable behavioral problems and developmental regression. It is a devastating disease for patients and families, with early death, and there is currently no treatment.
GM1-gangliosidosis is a rare inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe cognitive and motor developmental delays resulting in early death. It is caused by mutations in the GLB1 gene, which encodes an enzyme called beta-galactosidase necessary for recycling the GM1-ganglioside molecule in neurons. This brain lipid is essential for normal function, but its accumulation causes neurodegeneration, resulting in severe neurological symptoms. There is currently no treatment.
About Lysogene:
Lysogene is a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering in the basic research and clinical development of AAV gene therapy for CNS disorders with a high unmet medical need. Since 2009, Lysogene has established a unique platform and network, with lead products in MPS IIIA and GM1 Gangliosidosis, to become a global leader in orphan CNS diseases. For more information: www.lysogene.com.
