Cyclerion Strengthens Board of Directors with Experienced Company Builder and Cutting-edge Innovator
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“Dina and Michael bring a unique combination of leadership capabilities, operating experience, and vast cutting-edge scientific knowledge. Having a world-renowned innovator and a biopharma veteran join the board facilitates the transformation of Cyclerion as we look ahead to possible licenses, mergers, acquisitions and/or other targeted investments,” said
Dina Katabi , Ph.D., is the Thuan andNicole Pham Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at theMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the director of MIT’sCenter for Wireless Networks and Mobile Computing , and a member of theNational Academy of Engineering , theNational Academy of Sciences , and theAmerican Academy of Arts and Sciences . She is also a recipient of the MacArthur Genius Award. Her research focuses on digital health, machine learning, and wireless and mobile technologies. Several start-ups have been spun out ofDr. Katabi's lab. She is the co-founder and president of Emerald Innovations, a health analytics company that specializes in digital health solutions for passive, contactless, in-home monitoring. She received her Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science fromMIT and her B.S. fromDamascus University .
Michael Higgins is a serial entrepreneur who has helped launch and build numerous companies during his 30+ year career. Michael served as Voyager Therapeutics’ Interim Chief Executive Officer fromJune 2021 toMarch 2022 . In this role he was able to stabilize and relaunch the company through the completion of three major business development deals, and the restructuring of the management team and research portfolio.Mr. Higgins was an entrepreneur-in-residence atPolaris Partners from 2015 to 2020 where he helped the founding team launch Camp4 Therapeutics. From 2003 through 2014 he served as Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals Inc., evolving the company from its early days as a venture backed start-up to a fully integrated commercial organization.Mr. Higgins has been a long-time board member and board chair at other public and private companies. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Voyager Therapeutics as well as Pulmatrix Therapeutics. He also served as Audit Committee Chair at Voyager and has extensive compensation committee and governance committee experience. His financial expertise ranges from seed stage financing to IPOs, and beyond. He earned a B.S. fromCornell University and an M.B.A. from theAmos Tuck School of Business atDartmouth College .
About Cyclerion Therapeutics
Cyclerion Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company on a mission to develop treatments for serious diseases. Cyclerion acquired 10 percent equity ownership in Tisento Therapeutics as part of an asset sale agreement in which Tisento acquired the brain-penetrant soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators zagociguat and CY3018 acquired from Cyclerion. Cyclerion’s current portfolio includes novel sGC stimulators, namely praliciguat and olinciguat, as well as multiple research stage molecules. Praliciguat is a systemic sGC stimulator that is exclusively licensed to Akebia and is being advanced in rare kidney disease. Olinciguat is a vascular sGC stimulator that Cyclerion intends to out-license for cardiovascular diseases. Concurrently, Cyclerion is also evaluating other activities aimed at enhancing shareholder value, which potentially include collaborations, licenses, mergers, acquisitions and/or other targeted investments.
Forward Looking Statement
Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements”. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should”, “positive”, or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, we caution you that these statements are based on a combination of facts and factors currently known by us and our projections of the future, about which we cannot be certain. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements about pursuing collaborations, licenses, mergers, acquisitions and/or other targeted investments aimed at enhancing shareholder value. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. Furthermore, if the forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. Actual performance and results may differ materially from those projected or suggested in the forward-looking statements due to various risks and uncertainties, including, those under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the
Contacts
Investor & Media Relations
Phone: 857-327-8778
Email: IR@cyclerion.com
Source: Cyclerion Therapeutics, Inc.