CavoGene LifeSciences Appoints Scott J. Fisher, PhD as CEO

CLEVELAND, Feb. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- CavoGene LifeSciences announced today the appointment of Scott J. Fisher, PhD as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Fisher is a regenerative medicine expert who has previously led drug development and gene therapy clinical research of multiple regenerative therapies at early stage companies. CavoGene will be headquartered at the Global Center for Heath Innovation in Cleveland, Ohio.

Cavogene has licensed a novel investigational gene therapy for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, and age-related cognitive decline. Currently, there is a large unmet medical need for these life-threatening conditions. The licensed rights for SynCav1 come from the University California San Diego (UC San Diego) and the laboratory of Brian P. Head, PhD. SynCav1 is a novel gene therapy intervention that restores and augments pro-growth signaling, axonal and dendritic growth, and formation of new functional synapses in animal models. That data demonstrate that SynCav1 improves motor function, maintains body weight and extends survival in ALS rodent models, increases structural and functional neuroplasticity, and improves learning and memory in aged mice and in an AD mouse model.

"The exciting opportunity with SynCav1 is not only that it is a novel, gene therapy approach to neurodegenerative disorders, but that we have observed rescue and regrowth of neurons," said Dr. Fisher. "Caveolin restoration and overexpression enhances neuroregeneration, innervation and synaptic neuroplasticity. I am eager to work with Jim Sergi, Dr. Head, our advisors and the great team at CSSi, to champion this therapy and bring SynCav1 to patients." CSSi LifeSciences will manage the preclinical, manufacturing, regulatory, and clinical development of SynCav1.

About CavoGene LifeSciences:

CavoGene is a biotechnology company committed to individuals worldwide who are impacted by various neurodegenerative diseases. We are dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of novel gene therapies that attenuate memory loss and increase synaptic neuroplasticity. CavoGene has secured exclusive license to SynCav1, a novel and neuron specific gene therapy to target caveolin expression and restore synaptic signaling and improve cognitive function in the neurodegenerative brain.

About UC San Diego:

UC San Diego was founded in 1960 as a forward-thinking research institution for graduate and undergraduate study. Scripps Institution of Oceanography, established in 1903 and now a division of the university, served as a catalyst for UC San Diego's initial growth. Today, our campus has grown to encompass six undergraduate residential colleges, five academic divisions - Arts & Humanities, Biological Sciences, Jacobs School of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences - three graduate schools, a medical school and a school of pharmacy.

About CSSi LifeSciences:

CSSi LifeSciences provides fully integrated regulatory and clinical services to support the entire product lifecycle, from discovery to commercialization, for pharmaceutical and medical device companies. With global expertise, CSSi LifeSciences has been a key partner in the development of more than 500 drugs, biologics, medical devices, and in-vitro diagnostics. The company's headquarters is located in Baltimore, MD, with additional offices in San Francisco, California and Hyderabad, India. For more information, visit: www.cssilifesciences.com.

About the GCHI:

The Global Center for Health Innovation, located in Cleveland, is the platform where global healthcare leaders – industry, health systems, investors, and innovators – convene and collaborate to develop solutions to solve high-priority healthcare issues. Engaged brands include BioEnterprise, Cardinal Health, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, DHG Healthcare, G2G consulting, GE Healthcare, Gleeson, HIMSS, Innovation Fund Northeast Ohio, JumpStart, MetroHealth System, OnBase by Hyland, NGP Capital, Philips Medical, Plug and Play, RiverVest Ventures, RRE Ventures, Siemens, SmartShape, Steris, TeamNEO, University Hospitals System and multiple digital health, medical device and biotechnology startups.

http://www.theglobalcenter.com/

Media Contact:
Amanda Jenaway
[email protected]
586-789-0418

SOURCE CavoGene LifeSciences