BRISBANE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO) today announced changes to its research and development organization.

Going forward, research and development will each be managed as separate functions. A search for a Head of Development is underway. Jason Fontenot, Senior Vice President, Cell Therapy, will assume the role of Interim Head of Research. The heads of research and development will report to CEO Sandy Macrae.

“The changes we are announcing today are designed to increase the speed and efficiency of the clinical translation of our ground-breaking science into genomic medicines,” said Sandy Macrae, CEO of Sangamo. “Managing research and development separately will allow us to industrialize zinc finger protein engineering, to retain our strength in basic research that has led to our broad and growing pipeline of genomic medicine candidates, and to add new capabilities in late-stage clinical and product development.”

Sangamo today also announced the departure of Adrian Woolfson, Executive Vice President of R&D. “Adrian contributed a great deal to Sangamo,” Macrae said. “With endless energy and excitement, he inspired many with his scientific understanding and his belief in the potential of our technology. We wish him every success as he pursues his next endeavor.”

About Sangamo Therapeutics

Sangamo Therapeutics is committed to translating ground-breaking science into genomic medicines with the potential to transform patients’ lives using gene therapy, ex vivo gene-edited cell therapy, and in vivo genome editing and gene regulation. For more information about Sangamo, visit www.sangamo.com.

Sangamo Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on Sangamo’s current expectations. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to Sangamo’s ability to discover, develop, obtain regulatory approvals for and commercialize therapies to treat disease, Sangamo’s anticipated research, development and technological capabilities and other statements that are not historical fact. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Sangamo’s actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global business environment, healthcare systems and the business and operations of Sangamo and its collaborators; the research and development process; the uncertain timing and unpredictable results of clinical trials, including whether final clinical trial data will validate the safety and efficacy of product candidates; the unpredictable regulatory approval process for product candidates across multiple regulatory authorities; the manufacturing of products and product candidates; the commercialization of approved products; the potential for technological developments that obviate technologies used by Sangamo and its collaborators; the potential for collaborators to breach or terminate their collaboration agreement with Sangamo; and the potential for Sangamo for fail to realize its expected benefits of its collaborations. There can be no assurance that Sangamo and its collaborators will be able to develop and obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for commercially viable products. These risks and uncertainties are described more fully in Sangamo’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. The information contained in this release is as of this date, and Sangamo undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements contained in this release except as required under applicable law.

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