BlueRock Therapeutics Appoints Shane Kovacs as Chief Business and Financial Officer

Appointment strengthens the leadership team and accelerates the company's establishment of its novel Cell+Gene platform

News provided by

Sep 20, 2018, 08:00 ET

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueRock Therapeutics, LP, an engineered cell therapy company focused on leveraging its novel Cell+Gene platform to develop regenerative medicines for intractable diseases, today announced the appointment of Shane Kovacs as both Chief Business and Chief Financial Officer. In his new role, Mr. Kovacs will help define and execute the vision of BlueRock to develop and apply its Cell+Gene platform across multiple therapeutic areas. Mr. Kovacs brings strong biotech operating experience combined with significant investment banking and capital markets expertise.

"Our engineered cell therapy platform enables us to design and manufacture innovative new therapies that have the potential to fundamentally improve upon the limited treatment options for patients," said Emile Nuwaysir, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of BlueRock Therapeutics. "Shane brings both strategic insight and operating capabilities to BlueRock as we approach a critical inflection point for our programs and grow our pipeline. He is a welcome addition to our executive team and will play a key role in establishing BlueRock as the leader in the Cell+Gene space."

BlueRock Therapeutics is advancing a novel Cell+Gene platform to develop, manufacture and deliver native cells with engineered functionality. Core to BlueRock's cell biology technology is the ability to create native cell therapies with high purity, potency and specificity. BlueRock can further enhance these native cells by engineering added capability and function to pursue new medicines across both rare and more prevalent chronic diseases. The company is preparing to file an IND for a novel clinical trial evaluating its best-in-class cell therapy to restore dopaminergic neurons and function in Parkinson's Disease patients, while also advancing its pipeline of neurology, cardiology and autoimmune treatments.

"BlueRock's foundational science and distinctive technology platform combined with its robust development capabilities and strong executive leadership create an exciting opportunity," said Mr. Kovacs. "BlueRock has the potential to significantly change the treatment paradigm for patients suffering from neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders. As pioneers in the Cell+Gene space, BlueRock will translate this novel science into new medicines for patients suffering from intractable diseases with limited treatment options."

Mr. Kovacs most recently served as Managing Director, Head of Biotechnology Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets in New York. Prior to RBC, Mr. Kovacs was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Head of Corporate Development at PTC Therapeutics. In this capacity, he helped transform PTC from a private, development-stage biotechnology company into a publicly traded, global commercial-stage biopharmaceutical business. Prior to joining PTC, Mr. Kovacs served as Managing Director, Health Care Investment Banking at Credit Suisse, where he held various positions of increasing responsibility from 2004 to 2013.

Mr. Kovacs received an MBA from Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He is also a CFA Charterholder.

About BlueRock Therapeutics

BlueRock Therapeutics is an engineered cell therapy company with a mission to develop regenerative medicines for intractable diseases. BlueRock's Cell+Gene platform harnesses the power of cells for new medicines across neurology, cardiology and autoimmune indications. BlueRock's cell differentiation technology recapitulates the cell's developmental biology to produce native cell therapies which are further engineered for additional function. Utilizing these cell therapies to replace damaged or degenerated tissue brings the potential to restore or regenerate lost function. BlueRock was founded in 2016 by Versant Ventures and capitalized with one of the largest-ever Series A financings in biotech history by Bayer AG and Versant. BlueRock's culture is defined by scientific innovation, highest ethical standards and an urgency to bring transformative treatments to all who would benefit. For more information, visit www.bluerocktx.com.

Media Contacts:
David Schull or Maggie Beller
Russo Partners, LLC
(646) 942-5631
[email protected]

SOURCE BlueRock Therapeutics