Auregen Biotherapeutics, a clinical-stage company developing precision approaches to restore functional anatomy with cartilage cell therapy, today announced the appointment of Scott Lauder, Ph.D., as Chief Technology Officer, after initially serving in the role on an interim basis.
“Scott brings deep expertise in innovative technologies and different biologic modalities, and he has a proven track record of building highly capable, fully-integrated teams. All these experiences will be invaluable as our company looks ahead to a year of important milestones,” said Jason Meyenburg, Chief Executive Officer of Auregen. “Scott’s unique perspective will be essential as we continue to advance the Phase 1/2 study for AUR-201, our first-in-class therapeutic ear replacement for people with microtia, and work to develop precision therapies that can replace dysfunctional tissues and restore functional anatomy.”
“I’m excited to join the Auregen team on a permanent basis and continue our work on the forefront of autologous tissue generation, which reduces the potential for rejection risk or donor supply dependency,” said Dr. Lauder. “Auregen’s pioneering approach to cartilage cell therapy has the potential to address diseases with significant unmet need, beginning with microtia.”
Dr. Lauder was most recently the Chief Technical Operations Officer at Laronde Bio, a Flagship Pioneering company developing the next generation in RNA-based drugs. Prior to that role, he was the second employee at Gemini Therapeutics and was a key contributor to the precision medicine approach through the development of a Genetics group and biomarker strategy in addition to leading the chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC) function. Dr. Lauder holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University Medical School and completed post-doctoral training at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He also holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Microbiology from the University of Manitoba.
AUR-201, currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical study, is a therapeutic human ear replacement built from an autologous cell line that is designed to replace missing, damaged, or partially-formed ears for people with Grade II, III and IV microtia. AUR-201 is built from a patient’s own cells to look and feel like a real ear and is designed to grow collagen once it is placed. Auregen was granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation (RPDD) and Orphan Disease Designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for AUR-201.
About Microtia
Microtia is a rare, congenital condition where the ear is small, or not fully formed—even completely missing— causing hearing loss for many people. It occurs in approximately 800 infants every year in the U.S., and can result in serious, life-long physical, psychological, and emotional challenges, especially during childhood.
About Auregen
Auregen is a pioneering clinical-stage company developing precision approaches to restore functional anatomy with cartilage cell therapy. Auregen’s proprietary BioFoundry of regenerative tissue origination technologies has the potential to address diseases with significant unmet needs, initially focusing on cartilage cell-based therapies. The Company has successfully created living tissue through GMP-compliant autologous cell expansion, reducing the potential for rejection risk or donor supply dependency. AUR-201, Auregen’s clinical-stage, first-in-class 3D biofabrication ear construct derived from living cartilage tissue from autologous chondrocytes and biocompatible, resorbable biopolymers, is being developed for microtia, a rare disease requiring ear reconstruction. This is the only 3D bioprinted combination product being actively investigated in U.S. clinical studies, with an open-label, single-arm Phase 1/2 study underway. For more information, please visit Auregen’s website at www.auregen.bio.
