Drug development company PYC Therapeutics, (ASX: PYC) has appointed world-renowned RNA therapeutics pioneer Sue Fletcher, Ph.D. as its Chief Scientific Officer (CSO).
Ms Fletcher has been working with PYC since 2019 and will now join the company to lead the discovery and development of treatments for genetic disorders.
She brings over 25 years of experience in RNA therapeutics and is internationally recognised as a pioneer in the field. As co-inventor, her work led to the development of Eteplirsen (ExonDys51), which was licensed to Sarepta Therapeutics and became the first FDA-approved drug specifically for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Ms Fletcher is also the co-inventor of Vyondys-53 (previously Golodirsen), which was approved by the FDA in 2019, and Casimersen, which has been submitted for FDA approval.
She is a Senior Principal Research Fellow at Murdoch University and an Adjunct Professor and lecturer at the University of Western Australia, both in Perth, Australia. She obtained a BSc in Zoology and Chemistry at the University of Zimbabwe and a PhD in Physiology at the University of Western Australia.
PYC Chairman, Alan Tribe, said Ms Fletcher has been responsible for PYC’s lead programme targeting a form of Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Sue has been an integral part of PYC’s transformation into an RNA therapeutics company. As CSO, she will be able to devote even more energy towards the development of novel therapeutics like our lead programme,” Mr Tribe said.
“We are thrilled to have her leadership and expertise within PYC, and we are excited about the potential applications of our technology.”
Ms Fletcher said the development of PYC’s lead programme and broader retinal pipeline has been incredibly rewarding.
“I look forward to leading the advancement of our retinal programs in parallel to expanding our approach to the central nervous system, where I believe our technology can have life-changing impact for patients.”