Audentes Therapeutics Appoints Julie Anne Smith to Board of Directors

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Audentes Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BOLD), a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing gene therapy products for patients living with serious, life-threatening rare diseases, today announced the appointment of Julie Anne Smith to its board of directors.

"We are delighted to welcome Julie to our board of directors," stated Matthew Patterson, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Julie is a seasoned biotech leader with a proven track record of developing and commercializing novel therapeutics to treat rare diseases. We look forward to working closely with Julie as we develop our pipeline of innovative gene therapy products."

Ms. Smith commented, "I am pleased to join the Audentes board of directors at this exciting time in the company's development. 2017 will be an important year as the company plans to enter the clinic and advance its in-house proprietary manufacturing capabilities in pursuit of its vision of bringing transformative therapies to patients living with serious, life threatening rare diseases."

Julie Anne Smith served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Raptor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from January 2015 until the company's recent acquisition by Horizon Pharma plc. Previously, Ms. Smith served as Raptor's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer after joining the company in September 2012. From 2008 to 2012, Ms. Smith served as Chief Commercial Officer of Enobia Pharma Corporation, prior to the company's acquisition by Alexion. Additionally, Ms. Smith served in positions of increasing responsibility at Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (2006-2008), Genzyme, Inc. (2001-2005) and Novazyme Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2000-2001). Ms. Smith began her industry career at Bristol-Myers Squibb, first as a Product Manager and later as Director of channel strategy and design. Ms. Smith serves as an Independent Director at Exelixis, Inc. and previously as Director on the Health and Emerging Companies Sections of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) board. She received her Bachelor of Science in biological and nutritional sciences from Cornell University.

About Audentes Therapeutics, Inc.
Audentes Therapeutics (Nasdaq: BOLD) is a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing gene therapy products for patients living with serious, life-threatening rare diseases.  We have four products in development, AT132 for the treatment of X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy (XLMTM), AT342 for the treatment of Crigler-Najjar Syndrome, AT982 for the treatment of Pompe disease, and AT307 for the treatment of the CASQ2 subtype of Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CASQ2-CPVT).  We are a focused, experienced and passionate team committed to forging strong, global relationships with the patient, research and medical communities.

For more information regarding Audentes, please visit www.audentestx.com.

Forward Looking Statements 
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, the company's 2017 development and manufacturing plans and the expected benefits of the company's product candidates. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, the company cannot guarantee future events, results, actions, levels of activity, performance or achievements, and the timing and results of biotechnology development and potential regulatory approval is inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause the company's actual activities or results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, including risks and uncertainties related to the company's ability to advance its product candidates, obtain regulatory approval of and ultimately commercial its product candidates, the timing and results of preclinical and clinical trials, the company's ability to fund development activities and achieve development goals, the company's ability to protect intellectual property and other  risks and uncertainties described under the heading "Risk Factors" in documents the company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

Contacts:

Media:
Jeffrey Gruis
[email protected]
(415) 638-6561

Investors:
Thomas Soloway
Chief Financial Officer
[email protected]
(415) 638-6664

SOURCE Audentes Therapeutics, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.audentestx.com