Precision BioSciences Announces Formation of Scientific Advisory Board with Anderson, Kantarjian, Schinazi and Turtle

DURHAM, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Precision BioSciences today announced the formation of its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with four key appointments: Kenneth C. Anderson, M.D., Hagop Kantarjian, M.D., Raymond Schinazi, Ph.D., D.Sc. and Cameron Turtle, MBBS, Ph.D.

Drs. Anderson, Kantarjian, Schinazi and Turtle bring to Precision deep expertise in hematological malignancies, immuno-oncology and infectious disease with demonstrated success guiding innovative new therapies through clinical development and FDA approval. It is anticipated that the SAB members will work closely with Precision as it advances its genome editing programs through preclinical and clinical product development.

“We are thrilled to have attracted some of the world’s leading experts in immuno-oncology and infectious disease to join our SAB,” observed Precision CEO Matt Kane. “At Precision, we have found that by committing to excellence, we’ve cultivated a support network of extraordinary people who are as enthusiastic about the possibilities of ARCUS genome editing as we are, especially in areas of significant unmet medical need.”

Kenneth C. Anderson, M.D. is the program director of the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center and LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Kraft Family Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His laboratory and clinical group have made significant advances in high-dose therapy and hematopoietic cell transplantation to treat myeloma. He has also developed laboratory and animal models of myeloma, illuminating disease progression in the bone marrow microenvironment and paving the way to novel therapeutic approaches that have significantly improved lives and outcomes for myeloma patients. [Dana Farber webpage]

Hagop Kantarjian, M.D. is chair of the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he is also the Samsung Distinguished Leukemia Chair in Cancer Medicine. He is a non-resident fellow in health policy at the Rice University Baker Institute. His center has impacted the entire blood cancer community, and his work, focused on patients affected by chronic myeloid leukemia and acute lymphocytic leukemia, has led to new treatments and improved patient outcomes. He has been highly prolific in bringing novel leukemia therapies to the market, with research and collaborations serving as the basis for FDA approvals of over 20 blood cancer drugs. [MD Anderson webpage]

Raymond Schinazi, Ph.D, D.Sc. is the Frances Winship Walters Professor of Pediatrics and director of the Laboratory of Biochemical Pharmacology at Emory University. He also serves as Co-Director of the HIV Cure Scientific Working Group within the NIH-sponsored Emory University Center for AIDS Research. Dr. Schinazi has been integral to the discovery and development of multiple landmark antiviral drugs, including the HBV drugs telbivudine and lamivudine (the first oral HBV agent), the HCV drug sofosbuvir and the HIV drug emtricitabine. Over 94 percent of people infected with HIV take one of the drugs he has invented. [Emory University webpage]

Cameron Turtle, MBBS, Ph.D. is an associate member at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and an associate professor at the University of Washington. As an attending physician of the Immunotherapy Service and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) Service at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), he specializes in treating blood diseases with cellular immunotherapies and HSCT. A leader in the field of immuno-oncology and novel T cell therapies, Turtle has led multiple CAR T clinical trials against non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. [Fred Hutch webpage]

About Precision BioSciences

Precision BioSciences is dedicated to improving life. Our mission is to cure genetic disease, overcome cancer, and feed the planet. We are striving to achieve this goal with ARCUS, our therapeutic-grade, naturally-derived genome editing system that combines both specificity and efficacy to help overcome life’s greatest genetic challenges. For additional information, please visit www.precisionbiosciences.com.

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