CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gemini Therapeutics, a clinical stage precision medicine company developing innovative treatments for genetically defined Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and linked ocular disorders, today announced that Dr. Tuyen Ong has been appointed to serve as an independent member of its Board of Directors.
“Tuyen has a demonstrated record of tangible successes in ophthalmology innovation, and we are confident that his strategic guidance will benefit our clinical development program, particularly as we advance our lead product candidate into Phase 2a,” said Stephen Squinto, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board of Directors for Gemini. “Our company is on the precipice of several important milestones, and his expertise will play a pivotal role in bringing GEM103 to patients suffering from dry AMD.”
“The opportunity to join a visionary organization with a pioneering approach to treating dry AMD is of undeniable interest to me, and this is an optimal time, as the Company prepares to announce Phase 1 clinical trial results,” said Dr. Ong. “Targeting genetic variants using drugable multimodal approaches will become standard in medicine and I look forward to working with the Gemini Board and management team to develop precision therapies for patients with sight threatening diseases and limited therapeutic options.”
Dr. Ong is a board-certified ophthalmologist and biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry management executive. He currently serves as senior vice president and head of the ophthalmology franchise at Biogen. Dr. Ong served as chief development officer at Nightstar Therapeutics up until its acquisition by Biogen in June 2019. During this time, he was involved with the company’s public listing on the NASDAQ, corporate and gene therapy strategy, and investor and M&A activities. Dr. Ong brings over 20 years of clinical and drug development experience from both large pharma and biotech, working in the fields of ophthalmology, genetic and rare disease at PTC Therapeutics Inc., Bausch and Lomb Inc. (acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.), and Pfizer. Dr. Ong holds an M.D. from the University College London and an M.B.A. from New York University Stern School of Business. He is a member of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists and a Churchill Fellow.
About Gemini Therapeutics
Gemini Therapeutics is a clinical stage precision medicine company developing innovative treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and linked ocular disorders by developing drugging strategies that are matched to specific genetic mutations found in patients with high clinical unmet need. Gemini’s lead clinical stage candidate, GEM103, is a recombinant form of the naturally occurring complement factor H protein currently in a Phase 1 trial. The company has generated a rich pipeline including recombinant proteins, gene therapies, and monoclonal antibodies. Gemini’s CLARITY natural history study is designed to provide unprecedented insight into the role of genetic risk in common retinal diseases and began in December 2018. Gemini was launched with funding from leading life science investors and powered by academic partnerships globally.
For more information, visit www.geminitherapeutics.com.
