Gamida Cell Announces New Leadership Under Ownership of Highbridge Capital Management
2024年6月18日 - 9:00PM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
Stem-cell innovator poised to advance the
commercialization of its cancer treatment, with $30 million of
initial new capital and access to substantial additional funds to
drive growth
Experienced management team joins company, with
more than 80 years of cumulative experience expanding access to
innovative treatments for the patients who need them most
Gamida Cell (the “Company”), a cell therapy pioneer working to
turn cells into powerful therapeutics, today announced new
executive leadership following a successful restructuring
transaction ("Transaction”) with certain funds managed by
Highbridge Capital Management, LLC (collectively, “Highbridge”) on
May 24, 2024. As part of the Transaction, Highbridge invested $30
million of new capital into Gamida Cell, and is expected to provide
substantial additional capital to support ongoing operations,
including the research and development, manufacturing, and
commercialization of its cell therapeutics. Following the
Transaction, Gamida Cell now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary
of Ayrmid Limited, a UK entity.
To advance the commercialization of Omisirge® (omidubicel-onlv),
a NAM-modified cell therapy for allogenic hematopoietic stem cell
transplant, Gamida Cell has named industry stalwart Dr. Joe Wiley
as Chief Executive Officer, Rory Nealon as Chief Financial Officer,
and Sheila Frame as Chief Commercial Officer.
“Gamida Cell has made great strides in advancing potentially
curative cell therapies for cancer and has demonstrated the
tremendous potential of its life-saving therapies to improve
prospects for patients who cannot find appropriate donors,” said
Wiley. “With Highbridge's support, I look forward to leading Gamida
Cell into its next phase as we work with hospitals across the U.S.
to expand access to Omisirge for the patients who need it
most."
Wiley, Nealon, and Frame collectively bring more than 80 years
of experience in building, growing, and commercializing innovative
pharmaceutical treatments globally:
- Dr. Joe Wiley founded Amryt Pharma and served as the CEO
until it was acquired by Chiesi Farmaceutici in April 2023. Prior
to his role at Amryt, Wiley served as the Principal at Sofinnova
Ventures and Medical Director at Astellas Pharma, and he held
multiple investment management roles following his work as a
neurologist.
- Rory Nealon was the co-founder, Chief Financial and
Operating Officer at Amryt Pharma from 2015 through its acquisition
in 2023. Before joining Amryt, he served executive roles at Trinity
Biotech, first as the Chief Financial Officer then as the Chief
Operations Officer.
- Sheila Frame most recently served as President Americas
of Amryt Pharma until it’s sale to the Chiesi Farmaceutici in 2023.
Frame has spent much of her career in executive positions leading
the commercialization and growth of several important
pharmaceutical products in oncology, immunology, and rare diseases
in the US as well as globally.
“Through our recent transaction and infusion of new capital, we
are demonstrating our commitment to supporting this mission-driven
company as it works toward broadening the availability of its
critically important treatment,” said Jonathan Segal, Co-Chief
Investment Officer at Highbridge. “We thank Gamida’s prior
management team for their dedication in advancing Omisirge and we
look forward to a productive collaboration with the newly appointed
leadership team to drive Gamida Cell’s future success.”
About Gamida Cell
Gamida Cell is a cell therapy pioneer working to turn cells into
powerful therapeutics. The company’s proprietary nicotinamide (NAM)
technology leverages the properties of NAM to enhance and expand
cells, creating allogeneic cell therapy products and candidates
that are potentially curative for patients with hematologic
malignancies. These include Omisirge® (omidubicel-onlv), an
FDA-approved nicotinamide modified allogeneic hematopoietic
progenitor cell therapy, and GDA-201, an intrinsic NK (natural
killer) cell therapy candidate being investigated for the treatment
of hematologic malignancies. Gamida Cell operates as a wholly owned
subsidiary of Ayrmid Limited, a UK entity. For additional
information, please visit www.gamida-cell.com or follow Gamida Cell
on LinkedIn, X, Facebook or Instagram.
About Highbridge Capital Management
Founded in 1992, Highbridge Capital Management, LLC
(“Highbridge”) is a global alternative investment firm offering
differentiated credit and volatility focused solutions across a
range of liquidity and investment profiles, including hedge funds,
drawdown vehicles, and co-investments. The firm seeks to generate
attractive risk-adjusted returns for sophisticated investors, which
include financial institutions, public and corporate pension funds,
sovereign wealth funds, endowments and family offices. Highbridge
is headquartered in New York, with a research presence in London.
In 2004 Highbridge established a strategic partnership with J.P.
Morgan. Highbridge has over $4 billion in assets under management,
as of April 1, 2024, and holds meaningful investments across the
global healthcare and life sciences spectrum.
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Media Contact For Highbridge, please contact C Street
Advisory Group at gamidacell@thecstreet.com