Synthetic Genomics Appoints Tina Nova, Ph.D., and William McKee to Board of Directors

LA JOLLA, Calif., Nov. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/-- Synthetic Genomics, Inc., announced today that it has appointed industry veterans Tina Nova, Ph.D., and William McKee to its board of directors.

"Tina and Bill have decades of experience growing dynamic commercial organizations in new markets within the pharmaceutical and healthcare diagnostics industries," said Oliver Fetzer, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Synthetic Genomics. "As we continue to advance our cell engineering capabilities and expand the applications of our technology to create new sustainable solutions in human health and other industries, Tina and Bill's experience will be instrumental in shaping our strategy and path forward."

Dr. Nova has served as president and chief executive officer of Molecular Stethoscope, a diagnostics company, since 2015, and previously was senior vice president and general manager of Illumina's oncology business unit. Dr. Nova was a co-founder of Genoptix, a medical laboratory diagnostics company, and served as its president through 2014. She also served as the company's chief executive officer and as a member of its board of directors from 2000 until Novartis AG acquired Genoptix in 2011. Dr. Nova was a co-founder of Nanogen, a provider of molecular diagnostic tests, and served as its chief operating officer and president from 1994 to 2000. She previously served as chief operating officer of Selective Genetics, a biotechnology company, and held various positions with Ligand Pharmaceuticals and Hybritech. Dr. Nova serves as the chair of the board of directors for Arena Pharmaceuticals and as a member of the board of directors of Veracyte, a diagnostics company. Dr. Nova received a bachelor's degree in biological sciences from the University of California, Irvine, and a doctorate in biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside.

Mr. McKee most recently served as chief operating officer and chief financial officer at EKR Therapeutics, a private specialty pharmaceutical company, through its acquisition by Cornerstone Therapeutics. Prior to that, he served as the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Barr Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical. Mr. McKee served in positions of increasing responsibility at Barr Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and was executive vice president and chief financial officer prior to its acquisition by Teva. Before this, Mr. McKee served as director of international operations and vice president, finance at Absolute Entertainment, a private developer and marketer of entertainment software. Mr. McKee previously worked at Gramkow & Carnevale, CPA's, an accounting firm, and also worked at Deloitte & Touche. Mr. McKee currently serves on the board of directors of Agile Therapeutics, a public specialty biopharmaceutical company, and Cerulean Pharma. Mr. McKee received a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Notre Dame.

About Synthetic Genomics

Synthetic Genomics Inc., located in La Jolla, CA, is a leader in the fields of synthetic biology and synthetic genomics, advancing genomics to better life. Synthetic Genomics applies its intellectual property in this rapidly evolving field to design and build biological systems solving global sustainability challenges. Synthetic Genomics serves three end markets: research, bioproduction, and applied products. The company's research offerings, commercialized through its subsidiary SGI-DNA, are revolutionizing science and medicine with next-generation genomic solutions, including the world's first DNA printer. Synthetic Genomics applies its integrated synthetic biology capabilities to reinvent bio-based production by improving existing production systems and developing novel, optimized production hosts. Synthetic Genomics develops its applied products, typically in partnership with leading global organizations, across a variety of industries including sustainable bio-fuels, sustainable crops, nutritional supplements, vaccines, and transplantable organs.

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SOURCE Synthetic Genomics, Inc.