Symic Biomedical Appoints Kamal Egodage, Ph.D., MBA, VP of Development & Manufacturing and Grace Wong-Sarad, VP and Controller

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Symic Biomedical, a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company developing multiple compounds that target the extracellular matrix (ECM), today announced the appointment of Kamal Egodage, Ph.D., MBA, as Vice President of Development & Manufacturing and Grace Wong-Sarad as Vice President and Controller.

"We have just entered a critical stage for the company with the initiation of the SHIELD trial for our lead vascular candidate, SB-030, and the broad expertise of both Kamal and Grace will be invaluable as we focus on the achievement of our next milestones, including the selection of our next pipeline candidate," said Ken Horne, Chief Executive Officer of Symic Biomedical. "We are laying the foundation for growth with the expansion of our management team as we advance our pipeline targeting the extracellular matrix."

Dr. Egodage has 20 years of biotherapeutics development experience in both in the U.S. and Europe. Prior to joining Symic, he held leadership positions with increasing responsibility in Novartis, Eli Lilly, Pharmacia and Monsanto in the areas of biologics research and development (R&D), strategy and business development. Dr. Egodage has contributed to numerous regulatory submissions in multiple therapeutic areas, and, in his recent biologics strategy and business development role at Novartis, he led R&D teams in the areas of cardiovascular and metabolism, oncology and autoimmunity, transplantation and inflammation. Dr. Egodage received his Ph.D. in bioanalytical chemistry from University of Kansas and earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany.

Ms. Wong-Sarad has more than 20 years combined experience in biotechnology finance and audit and assurance. She previously served as Senior Director, Corporate Controller, at Hyperion Therapeutics, where she was a key team member responsible for the company's successful IPO in 2012 and a secondary offering in 2013. During her time at Hyperion she led the finance and accounting function, revenue reporting, SEC reporting and tax, among other responsibilities. Prior to Hyperion, Ms. Wong-Sarad held management positions of increasing responsibility at KPMG in Thailand and in the U.S., and at Ernst & Young Philippines (SGV & Co.). She is a certified public accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science in accountancy from San Pedro College of Business in the Philippines.

About Symic Biomedical

Symic Biomedical is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company developing a pipeline of products targeting the extracellular matrix (ECM). Symic's proprietary compounds function like proteoglycans, important structural and functional macromolecules native to the ECM, which is the non-cellular component of tissues that is critical for healthy tissue function. Components of the ECM, particularly proteoglycans, play a critical role in healing following injury and in chronic diseases. SB-030 is Symic's lead compound under evaluation in the Phase 1/2 clinical study for vascular endothelial injury.

Symic Biomedical is based in San Francisco. For additional information, please visit the company's website at http://www.symic.bio or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/symicbio and LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/symic-bio/.

Media Contacts

David Schull or Lena Evans
Russo Partners, LLC
(212) 845-4271
(212) 845-4262
david.schull@russopartnersllc.com
lena.evans@russopartnersllc.com

SOURCE Symic Biomedical