Listed biotechnology firm听e-therapeutics has appointed听Ali Mortazavi as Chief Executive Officer.听
Mortazavi, the former long-time CEO of Silence Therapeutics and a former professional chess player, joined the Newcastle University spin-out as Executive Chairman in February.听
e-therapeutics, now headquartered in Oxfordshire, said he听will retain听that听position.听听
The company has听expanded into RNA interference as a therapeutic modality to pursue drug discovery outcomes.听
Professor Trevor Jones CBE,听one of two听Non-Executive Directors, said听Mortazavi had听“re-energised the听company鈥�.听
鈥泪mportantly,听[he has]听played a significant role in restructuring the听portfolio;听including the establishment of a research programme on RNAi鈥μ�a key area for important new therapies for a number of major diseases,鈥� added Jones.听
鈥�We are delighted that in addition to his role as Chairman he has accepted our invitation to lead the team as Chief Executive Officer.”听
In May, e-therapeutics established a scientific advisory board with the initial appointment of Paul Burke as chair.听
It then raised听拢11.6m听growth funding to expand its platform capabilities,听asset pipeline, team and relocate its听head office in Oxford and open a new London base.听
Mortazavi听said: “Rarely does an opportunity arise to lead a company in an entirely new and burgeoning sector.听听
鈥�I believe that e-therapeutics has established a key position among the small vanguard of companies across the globe applying computational biology to drug discovery.听听
鈥�Our ambition is to take advantage of our momentum to become a major force at this intersection of technology and life sciences.”