Country for PR: China
Contributor: PR Newswire Asia (China)
Thursday, September 23 2021 - 22:00
AsiaNet
BIORCHESTRA appoints pharma veteran and Moderna and Akcea (Ionis) CMO "Dr. Louis St. L. O'Dea" as CMO of BIORCHESTRA
BOSTON, Sept. 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

BIORCHESTRA is a bio-tech company focused on the identification of novel 
targets in neurodegenerative diseases using RNA-based therapeutics. To access 
these novel targets, BIOCHESTRA has also developed a proprietary nanoparticle 
formulation to deliver RNA-based drugs across the blood-brain barrier in 
sufficient amounts to be therapeutically effective. In addition, their 
proprietary exosome-based diagnostic that detects and quantifies markers of 
neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration facilitates patient selection and 
treatment monitoring. 

Nonclinical models confirm the relevance of the neuroinflammation and 
neurodegeneration pathways targeted by BIORCHESTRA and confirm deep brain 
delivery of their proprietary drug, BMD-001, in rodents and primates and 
disease models of ALS and Alzheimer's disease.

BIORCHESTRA has been recently recognized for its achievements by Johnson & 
Johnson in their Innovation QuickFire Challenge in Neuroscience in June, 2021. 
[i] [ii]

Reflecting the success of its research and development programs and 
anticipating its international expansion and entry into clinical development, 
the BIORCHESTRA has appointed Dr. Louis St.L. O'Dea as its first CMO (Chief 
medical officer) in September, 2021. CEO Branden Ryu mentioned "Dr. O'Dea has 
successfully has led 14 drugs including sNDA and ANDA, development program, 
regulatory interactions and drug approvals at Moderna, Akcea, Serono and 
Radius. He is a great fit for BIORCHESTRA having expertise and experience in 
all phases of drug development, trial design and execution, regulatory affairs 
and RNA. I am more than happy to be developing new drug with such a great 
expert Dr. O'Dea. Dr. O'Dea will play key role in overall strategic direction, 
planning, execution and interpretation of clinical research, clinical 
operations and clinical pharmacology, data management, statistics and 
safety/pharmacovigilance for neurodegenerative diseases and mRNA vaccines. This 
will be a great opportunity for us to learn how great biotechs such as Moderna 
and Ionis(Akcea) have grown, overcome difficulties and develop products. I will 
be collaborating closely with Dr. O'Dea." In addition to the responsibilities 
listed above, Dr. O'Dea has also joined the Board of Directors of BIORCHESTRA 
as of September 2021 and will become President of the North American subsidiary 
of BIORCHESTRA. 

Dr. O'Dea said "my decision to join BIORCHESTRA was based on the innovative 
foundational science, the high social value of the work of BIORCHESTRA in 
addressing fatal neurodegenerative diseases, and the quality and commitment of 
the people. Hence, the decision to travel over 7,000 miles to Daejeon, South 
Korea, to join BIORCHESTRA. I am honored to steer this organization through its 
next phase of growth, to deliver life-saving drugs to patients. We will have 
the benefit of the best talent available in Boston and Daejeon to deliver on 
the promise of BIORCHESTRA's scientific platforms. 

Dr. Louis St.L. O'Dea (MB, BCh, BAO, FRCP has worked as CMO in global 
pharmaceutical companies such as Serono, Moderna, Akcea (Ionis), Radius and 
Oxford Immunotec for 28 years. He has successfully registered 14 NDAs including 
NCEs, sNDAs and ANDAs, 5 Orphan drug designations, and 1 medical device 
approval in USA, Europe, Canada, and Japan. He has expertise with 
RNA(oligo-nucleotides), proteins, peptides, small molecules and route of 
administration from numerous new drug development experiences. As CMO and head 
of regulatory affairs of Moderna, Dr. O'Dea was a member of the executive team 
that attracted research funds from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects 
Agency) to initiate the mRNA vaccine program and significant investments from 
AstraZeneca and Alexion".

In Akcea Therapeutics (Ionis's subsidiary, developed treatment for rare 
diseases using oligonucleotide platform) Dr.  O'Dea served as CMO and Executive 
Vice president and registered "WAYLIVRA® (volanesorsen)" in Europe. The Akcea 
executive team also successfully completed out-license deals with Novartis (>$1 
billion) and Pfizer (>$1 billion) and listed Akcea Therapeutics on the NASDAQ 
in 2017. 

Dr. O'Dea graduated in Medicine from University College Dublin and did 
postdoctoral research at McGill university hospitals, Massachusetts general 
hospital/Harvard university, and was a member of the Faculty of Medicine at 
McGill before coming to industry. He has published 36 papers, co-authored 11 
book chapters, published more than 100 abstracts and filed 3 patent 
applications. He also has extensive experience in clinical trials and 
regulatory negotiations and meetings in EMA, Japan, Argentina, Australia, 
Belgium, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Sweden, as well as 
the US FDA. 

[i] 
https://jlabs.jnjinnovation.com/news/biorchestra-named-awardee-in-nyc-innovation-quickfire-challenge-on-neuroscience 

 
[ii] 
https://jlabs.jnjinnovation.com/quickfire-challenges/nyc-innovation-quickfire-challenge-neuroscience

 
Source: BIORCHESTRA Co., Ltd.

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   Caption: Dr. Louis St. L. O'Dea

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