CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AavantiBio, a gene therapy company focused on transforming the lives of patients with rare genetic diseases, today announced the appointment of Jenny Marlowe, Ph.D. as Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Marlowe will be responsible for leading AavantiBio’s scientific research and preclinical development. She will also serve as a key member of the company’s executive leadership team as AavantiBio seeks to advance its diversified pipeline of gene therapies in areas of significant unmet medical need.
Dr. Marlowe brings to AavantiBio nearly 15 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including extensive experience in molecular biology, drug safety, and nonclinical and translational development. She joins from Bluebird Bio Inc. (NASDAQ: BLUE) where she previously served as Vice President of Preclinical & Translational Development, with responsibilities for preclinical development and translational biomarker strategies for the company’s portfolio of cell and gene therapies for both oncology and rare disease. She played a critical role in the success of several key regulatory submissions, including most recently a Biologics License Application for betibeglogene autotemcel for beta-Thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder.
“We are delighted to have Jenny join the AavantiBio team and expand our scientific and early-stage development capabilities. She brings a wealth of leadership and expertise in research, toxicology, and investigation of gene therapies and shares our commitment to serving patients with rare genetic diseases,” said Bo Cumbo, President and Chief Executive Officer of AavantiBio. “Jenny’s deep experience in the development of cell and gene therapies further bolsters our ability to advance our growing pipeline of gene therapy programs and platform capabilities, and we look forward to benefiting from her scientific, development, and strategic insight.”
“I am excited to join a company and management team that shares my passion for and commitment to scientific rigor and innovation,” said Dr. Marlowe. “I look forward to working closely with this dynamic and experienced team and supporting AavantiBio’s mission of bringing multiple groundbreaking genetic therapies to more patients.”
Dr. Marlowe began her career at Novartis (NYSE: NVS), where she held positions of increasing responsibility within the company’s Investigative Toxicology and Preclinical Safety functions, including directing projects across a broad portfolio of indications and drug modalities. Prior to joining Novartis, Dr. Marlowe earned a PhD in Molecular Toxicology from the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Miami University.
Since launching in 2020 with foundational financial backing from some of the life science industry’s leading investors, AavantiBio has made significant progress building out the Company’s strategic and development capabilities. The Company has also announced strategic partnerships and collaborations with Aldveron, National Resilience, Inc., Catalent, and the University of Florida in recent months to support the development and manufacturing of a diversified pipeline of gene therapies.
About AavantiBio, Inc.
AavantiBio is a gene therapy company backed by a premier syndicate of life sciences investors including Perceptive Advisors, Bain Capital Life Sciences, and RA Capital Management, who led the company’s $107 million Series A financing. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, AavantiBio’s platform is focused on advancing innovative gene therapies in areas of high unmet medical need, including a lead program in Friedreich’s Ataxia, a rare inherited genetic disease that causes cardiac and central nervous system dysfunction. The company benefits from strategic partnerships with the University of Florida’s Powell Gene Therapy Center and the MDA Care Center at UF Health where AavantiBio’s co-founders and renowned gene therapy researchers Barry Byrne, M.D., Ph.D. and Manuela Corti, P.T., Ph.D. maintain their research and clinical practices. Learn more at www.aavantibio.com.
