Coventry University

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ReCode Therapeutics, a clinical-stage genetic medicines company using tissue-specific delivery to power the next wave of mRNA and gene correction therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Dean J. Mitchell as chairman of its Board of Directors. Mr. Mitchell is a highly experienced and well-regarded biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry veteran who brings over three decades of experience as a board director and corporate executive to the ReCode board. “We are delighted to have Dean join the board as we continue to advance our respiratory clinical development programs and leverage our novel SORT LNP delivery platform to expand our portfolio,” said Shehnaaz Suliman, M.D., MBA, M.Phil., chief executive officer of ReCode Therapeutics. “His proven track record at growing and scaling biopharma companies is a welcome addition to our board that will support the company’s near- and long-term growth.” “I am pleased to join the talented ReCode board at a pivotal time for the company as it continues to achieve significant milestones for its lead clinical programs and expand its research and discovery efforts into gene correction,” said Mr. Mitchell. “I look forward to working with the board and the executive team to advance these novel therapies with the goal of one day providing much-needed treatments for patients living with rare diseases.” Mr. Mitchell currently serves as chairman of the Board of Directors of Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc., an appointment he has held since 2020, and as a board director for Theravance Biopharma, Inc. (since 2014) and Precigen (since 2009). Mr. Mitchell previously served as board chairman of Kinnate Biopharma, Inc. until its sale in 2024 and as board director for ImmunoGen, Inc. until its sale in 2024. He served as executive board chairman for Covis Pharma Holdings until its sale in 2020 and board chairman of PaxVax Corporation until its sale in 2018. Mr. Mitchell previously held the position of president and chief executive officer at Lux Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company focusing on the treatment of ophthalmic diseases, at Alpharma, Inc., a publicly traded specialty pharmaceutical company until its acquisition by King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and at Guilford Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly traded pharmaceutical company focused on oncology and acute care, until its acquisition by MGI Pharma Inc. He previously held executive roles at Bristol Myers Squibb and GlaxoSmithKline. Mr. Mitchell earned a B.A. from City University London and a B.Sc. in biology from Coventry University. About ReCode Therapeutics ReCode Therapeutics is a clinical-stage genetic medicines company using precision delivery to power the next wave of mRNA and gene correction therapeutics. ReCode’s proprietary Selective Organ Targeting (SORT) lipid nanoparticle (LNP) platform enables highly precise and targeted delivery of genetic medicines directly to the organs, tissues, and cells implicated in disease, enabling improved efficacy and potency. ReCode’s lead programs include RCT1100 for the treatment of primary ciliary dyskinesia caused by pathogenic mutations in the DNAI1 gene, and RCT2100 for the treatment of the 10-13% of cystic fibrosis patients who have Class I mutations in the CFTR gene and do not respond to currently approved CFTR modulators. RCT1100 and RCT2100 are inhaled disease-modifying mRNA-based therapies formulated using the SORT LNP delivery platform. ReCode is expanding its pipeline to develop potential therapies for other rare and common genetic diseases, including musculoskeletal, central nervous system, liver, and infectious disease indications. ReCode has been recognized by the San Francisco Business Times and Silicon Valley Business Journal as a Best Place to Work. For more information, visit and follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Photo Credit: Aciturri Aerospace fabricator Aciturri (Miranda de Ebro, Spain) announces its participation in the r-LightBioCom (new bio-based and sustainable Raw Materials enabling Circular Value Chains of High Performance Lightweight BioComposites) project. The goal of this project is to reduce the environmental impact of new high-performance composite (HPC) materials, not only during their production, but also during their operational life and subsequent recycling. Thanks to its experience in the use and manufacture of composite materials for aeronautics, Aciturri’s task is to characterize the new materials development, as well as carry out a use case to verify the validity of the new components and their fulfillment of performance requirements for their implementation in the aviation sector. Coordinated by the Spanish research center Aitex (Alicante), r-LightBioCom brings together 15 multidisciplinary players from research and the automotive, aeronautics and construction industries across Europe, promoting a paradigm shift in the existing value chains for advanced lightweight composites. The €4.2 million project, funded by the European Commission, started on Jan. 1, 2023 and will run until June 30, 2026. The project has been selected under the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program to develop new bio-based HPCs that with significantly reduced environmental impact throughout their entire lifecycle, together with technologies and tools for sustainable composite design, modeling and processing. While current HPCs and sustainable processing technologies bring many benefits, they are limited to large sectors due to long processing times, high costs and low recyclability. To exceed these limitations, the r-LightBioCom consortium will enable new circular value chains, reducing the use of fossil resources as well as the generation of HPC waste, thus contributing to the EU greenhouse gas emission compliance targets for 2050. A catalog of new advanced HPC materials will be developed, and will consist of at least: Three new types of bio-resins; Four new biomass-derived nanofillers and additives; and Three families of sustainable fiber-based textile products. Two new fast and efficient curing techniques combined with recycling technologies will be developed for the new material portfolio as well. In addition, standardization of design, modeling and optimization will be promoted for continued sustainable growth of the portfolio and the inclusion of new families of lightweight, recyclable and bio-based HPCs at a more competitive cost. The consortium, led by Aitex, is formed by Acciona Construcción, Centro Ricercje FIAT, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Hochschule Kaiserslautern, Coventry University, Leibniz-Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH, DLR and CIDAUT; in addition to AEP Polymers, Feyecon, FECSA and now Aciturri. More about the project can be viewed here.

UK medical equipment manufacturer, Adam,Rouilly, will be joining the ABHI UK Pavilion at MEDICA 2022 (14 – 17 November 2022) to showcase their new range of medical training models to support healthcare professionals perfect all manner of essential clinical and nursing skills. The company – who supply a comprehensive range of pioneering Anatomical Models, Anatomical Charts and Clinical Skills Simulators – will be showcasing some of their latest products, including the pioneering GlucoHand Glucometer Simulator. The device has been developed in collaboration with Nina Godson, senior lecturer & lead for clinical skills at Coventry University, to aid understanding and teaching of blood sampling and the interpretation of glucose level data and its implications in patient treatment planning. Also being showcased is the Cricoid Pressure Trainer, developed in collaboration with consultant anaesthetist Dr Osman Abdelatti, to help facilitate training in the application of the correct amount of cricoid pressure, which is routinely used during emergency and obstetric anaesthesia and ventilation. A full colour digital display offers instant visualisation of the degree of cricoid pressure being applied. Feedback about how the procedure and how long the correct cricoid pressure was held is presented in a graph at the end of the session - allowing for instant discussion and debriefing. In addition, Adam,Rouilly will be presenting their Rectal Examination Model which has been improved in collaboration with the Spinal Injuries Association to offer additional functionality making the model more versatile and lifelike. The model now provides training in stool assessment, general rectal examination and examination of an abnormality, manual stool extraction as well as enema training and insertion of liquid rectal medication. The company will also have several other exciting simulators and models on display at this year’s event. Tariq Shahab, director of sales & marketing, said: “We are delighted to be showcasing our innovative medical training models and simulators at MEDICA 2022. Our large range of products have been purposely designed and developed in direct response to customers' requirements and through a combination of robust research and development and collaboration with leading clinicians and world-class medical institutions. Our experienced and knowledgeable team are always pleased to give advice about our products, and we look forward to joining the ABHI at this year’s show to showcase how our exciting new solutions can support the training needs of healthcare professionals worldwide.” About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, and effective diabetes management is now a growing part of the general skills which all clinicians must possess. Adam,Rouilly’s GlucoHand model features a simulated glucometer device which can be pre-set by the trainer to give a low, normal, high or completely randomised blood glucose reading – allowing control for training or simulation scenarios. It also includes an adult sized hand, with two refillable finger pads in the middle and ring fingers containing mock blood. Once a sample of mock blood has been successfully obtained from the fingertip and placed on the test strip, the glucometer will display the predetermined reading which must then be interpreted by the student. The model provides a cost effective and complete training solution for all aspects of blood glucose sampling for medical students, care givers and even patient education. Studies have also shown that 95% of clinicians were unable to identify the correct amount of force required to occlude the oesophagus and that 87% were incapable of applying the correct amount of force. The Cricoid Pressure Trainer aims to significantly enhance training utilising the device’s realistic anatomical structures and instantaneous electronic feedback.