Strategic CEO hire to drive NeuroScientific stem cell therapy release
Smith has extensive experience in cell and gene therapies in senior commercial, operational and strategic roles in Australia and the United States, which should prove invaluable as the company navigates the regulatory and commercial pathways for its innovative StemSmart technology.
The company says his deep expertise in good practice manufacturing will be critical for converting the biotechnology startup into a scaled-up commercial stem cell company.
NeuroScientific acquired the StemSmart technology in late June via its $4.1 million acquisition of unlisted Perth-based stem cell company Isopgen.
StemSmart uses a specific type of stem cell, mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSC), as a last-line infusion treatment for critically ill patients, including those experiencing severe immune complications from bone marrow transplants, kidney and lung transplant rejection and inflammatory Crohn's disease.
'I was attracted to NSB given the historical success of StemSmart in multiple serious clinical disorders and the clear potential of the technology for further development.'
NeuroScientific Biopharmaceuticals chief executive officer Nathan Smith
Adding to the company's ranks of highly credentialled personnel, NeuroScientific announced on Friday that it had also recruited well-regarded Perth-based paediatric haematologist and oncologist Dr Catherine Cole as its chief medical officer.
The news of both appointments has continued to fuel a stellar rise in the company's share price, which traded 11.3 per cent higher today to 24.5 cents on the best turnover since April. The company's share price is up 360 per cent since the start of June.
Smith was the director of business development at Melbourne's Cell Therapies, which develops and manufactures advanced cell-based therapies and is located within the city's pioneering Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. He has held key roles at Genzyme Corporation, Mesoblast Inc and GlaxoSmithKline in the US, as well as other leading companies in the cell therapy sector.
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