CAMBRIDGE, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Be Biopharma, Inc., a company pioneering the development of engineered B Cell Medicines (BCMs), today announced the appointment of Angus Smith as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Wing-Yen Wong, M.D., as interim Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
Mr. Smith brings more than 15 years of experience in the biotechnology and life sciences industry, having held C-level positions in several public companies, including his most recent role as the CFO of Affimed N.V. and co-President of the company’s U.S. subsidiary, where he was responsible for implementing a new business plan and for raising over $400M in capital to support clinical development efforts. Mr. Smith also brings nearly a decade of investment banking experience, providing strategic and financial advice across the healthcare sector. Dr. Wong brings over 35 years of experience as a practicing clinician and professor at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and leading development efforts in several companies including BioMarin, Biogen, and Baxter. Most recently Dr. Wong was Group Vice-President, Head of Global Medical Affairs and Scientific Strategy at BioMarin where she was involved in the development of the most recently approved hemophilia gene therapy.
“We are thrilled to welcome Angus and Wing to Be Bio,” said Joanne Smith-Farrell, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer. “We are rapidly transitioning from a research-based company to one focused on delivering innovative medicines to patients, with our first program in hemophilia B entering the clinic this year. These accomplished and experienced leaders will further strengthen our leadership team. Angus’s long track record of financial operating experience and fundraising will be important as we advance multiple programs to the clinic, while Wing’s expertise in drug development and as a clinical scientist is particularly important as we pioneer a new class of cellular medicines, Engineered B Cell Medicines (BCMs), to dramatically improve the lives of patients.”
Angus Smith
Mr. Smith brings more than 15 years of experience in the biotechnology and life sciences industry, including his most recent role as the CFO of Affimed N.V. and, prior to that, at Rockwell Medical. At Affimed, Mr. Smith led all finance, accounting, and investor relations functions, implemented a new business plan and financing strategy, and raised more than $400 million. Mr. Smith began his career in healthcare investment banking, serving most recently as a Director in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group at Cantor Fitzgerald. During his nearly decade-long investment banking tenure, Mr. Smith provided strategic and financial advice to life sciences and healthcare companies. He has worked on a substantial number of transactions across the healthcare sector with an aggregate transaction value of more than $15 billion.
Mr. Smith holds a B.A. in Mathematical Economics from Colgate University.
Wing-Yen Wong, M.D.
Dr. Wong brings over 35 years of experience as a practicing clinician and working in the biotechnology industry with a focus in the treatment and management of patients with hemophilia, sickle cell disease (SCD) and pediatric hematology/oncology. Most recently Dr. Wong was Group Vice-President, Head of Global Medical Affairs and Scientific Strategy at BioMarin and Vice President, Global Medical, Hematology and Immunology at Biogen. Prior to Biogen, Dr. Wong was the Head of Clinical Research and Global Senior Medical Director of Hemophilia/Hematology at Baxter Healthcare Corporation where she directed medical and clinical functions, including global medical support of licensed products, clinical development and new product approvals. During her tenure at Baxter, Dr. Wong successfully directed the BLA submission and launch of multiple hemophilia products including RIXUBIS®, FEIBA®, OBIZUR and ADVATE®. Prior to her work in industry, Dr. Wong spent over 15 years as a practicing clinician and professor at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County (LAC) and University of Southern California (USC) Medical Center. As a clinician, Dr. Wong presented and published numerous studies and papers on her research in hemophilia and hematology and has served as a reviewer for medical journals including the American Journal of Hematology, Hemophilia and the Lancet. In 2003, Dr. Wong was appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services as a member of the Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability.
Dr. Wong earned her M.D. at the USC, Keck School of Medicine and a BA at Occidental College. She served a Fellowship at the LAC and USC Medical Center in pediatric hematology-oncology and was appointed Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Southern California.
About Engineered B Cell Medicines – A New Class of Cellular Medicines
The B cell is a powerful cell that produces thousands of proteins per cell per second at constant levels, over decades. Precision genome editing can now be used to engineer B Cells that produce therapeutic proteins of interest, driving a new class of cellular medicines – Engineered B Cell Medicines (BCMs) – with the potential to be durable, allogeneic, redosable and administered without pre-conditioning. The promise of BCMs could transform therapeutic biologics with broad application – across protein classes, patient populations and therapeutic areas.
About Be Biopharma
Be Biopharma (“Be Bio”) is pioneering Engineered B Cell Medicines (BCMs) to dramatically improve the lives of patients who are living with Hemophilia B and other genetic diseases, cancer, and other serious conditions. With eyes locked on the patient, our team of purpose-driven scientists, technologists, manufacturing experts and business builders collaborate to create a bold new class of cell therapies. Be Bio was founded in October 2020 by B cell engineering pioneers David Rawlings, M.D., and Richard James, Ph.D., from Seattle Children’s Research Institute. Be Bio is backed by ARCH Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, RA Capital Management, Alta Partners, Longwood Fund, Bristol Myers Squibb, Takeda Ventures, Seattle Children’s Research Institute and others. Since our founding, Be Bio’s investors have committed over $180 million to enable the Company to re-imagine medicine based on the power of B cell therapy. For more information, please visit us at Be.Bio and our LinkedIn page.
