Syndesi Therapeutics SA, a biotech company developing novel treatments for cognitive impairment, today announced the appointment of Dr Roy Twyman to its Board as an independent non-executive Director.
Dr Twyman spent over 19 years at Janssen Research & Development (part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson) in CNS development, holding roles of increasing responsibility. Most recently, Dr Twyman was Senior Vice President in the Neuroscience Therapeutic Area at Janssen. In this role, he had responsibility to oversee the Alzheimer’s Disease Area across all stages of R&D, including oversight of Neuroscience Experimental Medicine group covering clinical development from first time in human to proof of concept. Prior to joining Janssen in 1998, Dr Twyman held professorships in neurology at University of Michigan and University of Utah and gained his MD from University of Kentucky.
“I am delighted to welcome Roy onto Syndesi’s Board,” commented Jean Combalbert, Chair of the Board. “The fact that Syndesi has convinced an acknowledged world leader in CNS such as Roy to join the board reflects the promise of the pro-cognitive SV2A modulators for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. Roy’s contribution will definitively be a major asset for the company.”
Jonathan Savidge, CEO of Syndesi said “With his tremendous experience in CNS drug development, Roy brings complimentary expertise to the Board and his appointment is a major value add for the company as we prepare for Phase I entry with our lead molecule SDI-118, a small molecule modulator of SV2A that acts in a distinct way to the approved anti-epileptic compounds acting on this target.”
Commenting on his appointment, Dr Twyman noted “There is a need to explore new mechanisms that could help alleviate symptoms of cognitive impairment in dementia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Modulation of SV2A, an important protein involved in synaptic communication between neurons, has been shown to be a successful therapeutic strategy in epilepsy. Syndesi are developing an intriguing lead molecule that modulates SV2A in a distinct way. By directly targeting synaptic dysfunction, Syndesi’s research and development effort represents a promising approach for the treatment of cognitive impairment in conditions such as Alzheimer’s Disease.”
About Syndesi Therapeutics
Syndesi Therapeutics was established to develop a series of novel, pro-cognitive small molecule SV2A modulators licensed from UCB. Syndesi is investigating the potential of these molecule to improve cognition in diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease, other dementias and cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. The lead molecule, SDI-118 is anticipated to commence first in human Phase I studies in H1 2019. Syndesi announced a Series A financing round of €17M in February 2018, led by Novo Seeds and Fountain Healthcare with participation from Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JJDC, SRIW (Société Régionale d’Investissement de Wallonie), V-Bio Ventures and Vives Fund. Syndesi has been established at the Centre d’Entreprises et d’Innovation (CEI) in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium and is a resident company at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS (JLABS @ BE) in Beerse, Belgium.
For more information please visit www.syndesitherapeutics.com