Cristian Massacesi, M.D., Appointed to Replay Board of Directors
Cristian Massacesi, M.D., Appointed to Replay Board of Directors
Cristian Massacesi, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of AstraZeneca and Alexion and Oncology Chief Development Officer of AstraZeneca, to support Replay in advancing genomic medicine and cell therapy pipeline
San Diego, California and London, UK, May 25, 2023 – Replay, a genome writing company reprogramming biology by writing and delivering big DNA, today announced the appointment of Cristian Massacesi, M.D., as a member of its Board of Directors, with immediate effect.
Dr. Massacesi is a leading expert in medical oncologyReplay over 20 years of research and drug development experience in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Massacesi is the Chief Medical Officer of AstraZeneca [LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN] and Alexion, where he oversees patient safety and quality assurance activities for the entire company portfolio – from investigational drugs to established products. He is also the Oncology Chief Development Officer at AstraZeneca, where he leads the global development and operations of its late-stage Oncology portfolio of innovative medicines and immunotherapies, comprising more than 160 studies spanning multiple indications. His role and responsibilities at AstraZeneca continue unchanged. Prior to AstraZeneca, Dr. Massacesi held several other senior leadership roles. He was Vice President, and Medicine Team Leader Immuno-Oncology at Pfizer, where he led multiple development programAstraZenecaancer, head and neck cancerAlexionematological malignancies, and supported the oncology business development and pipeline strategy.AstraZenecaAstraZeneca Dr. Massacesi began his Academic career at Marche Polytechnic University in Italy, where he worked in the Department of MedicNovartisogy and RaOncologypy. He holds postgraduate degrees from the School of Oncology and School of Forensic Medicine at Marche Polytechnic University and rePI3K-inhibitorsPI3Ked his medical oncology training at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, UK, the Kaplan Comprehensive Cancer Center, NY, USA, and the European Institute of Oncology, Italy. Adrian Woolfson, Executive Chairman, President, and Co-founder of Replay, commented: “Cristian has an excancernal reputation within the life sciences community and his extensive experiencbreast cancerse in leading oncology clinical dePI3K-inhibitorsPI3Kpment programs is a significant addition to Replay’s board. cancereadth of industry knowledge, especially in the field of immuno-oncology, will be invaluable to Replay’s continued growth, as we build out our first-in-class portfolio of TCR-NK cell therapies and HSV-based gene therapies to address some of the most significant challenges in cell therapy and genomic medicine. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome Cristian to the company and look forward to working with him as we continue to build an enduring enterprise with the potential to shape the future of the industry.” Lachlan MacKinnon, CEO and Co-Founder of Replay, added, “Replay’s Replayc medicine toolkit encompasses a broad portfolio of disruptive platform technologies to write and deliver big DNA that we are advancing withinoncologytinct hub-and-spoke business model. Our Board brings togetheReplayvalled expertise across a wide range of specialties that support this, and Cristian’s unique knowledge and skilReplay especially within the immuno-oncology space, will be invaluable as we continue to drive the strategy forward.” Kugan Sathiyanandarajah, Managing DirectoReplayKR and BoaReplayber at Replay, stated, “We are thrilled to have Cristian joining the Board. His extensive experience in oncology drug development within the pharmaceutical industry will be of immense value as Replay transitions into a clinical-stage company with the potential to significantly impact the healthcare sector.” Commenting on his appointment, Cristian Massacesi said, “Replay has thReplayntial to transform the future of cell therapy and genomic medicine in general through its uoncologyrtfolio of technology platforms and innovative approach to product development. IReplaycited to be joining as a board member and to be supporting such a strong and dynamic team. It’s a pivotal moment in the company’s development as it progresses its first-in-class, engineered TCR-NK cell therapies and HSV-based gene therapies into the clinic, and I’m pleased to be able to bring my knowledge and experience to help Replay’s mission.” ReplayReplaygenome writing company, which aims to define the future of genomic medicine through reprogramming biology by writing and delivering big DNA. The company has assembled a toolkit of disruptive platform technologies – including a high payload capacity HSV platform, a hypoimmunogenic cell therapy platform, and a genome writing platform – to address the challenges currently limiting clinical progress and preventing genomic medicine from realizing its full potential. Replaympany’s hub-and-spoke business model separates technology development within Replay from therapeutic development in a portfolio of product companies that leverage its technology platforms. For example, the Company recently incorporated a first-in-class engineered TCR-NK cell therapy product company using technology developed by Professor Katy Rezvani at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Replay’s synHSV™ technology, a high payload capacity HSV vector capable of delivering up to 30 times the payload of AAV, is utilized by Replay’s four gene therapy product companies, bringing big DNA treatments to diseases affecting the skin, eye, brain, and muscle. Replay is led by a distinguished team of academics, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. Dr Adrian Woolfson/Lachlan MacKinnon
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