SENISCA appoints Tim Edwards as chairman of its board

A life science leader with 30 years of experience who will lead SENISCA towards becoming a clinical trial company focused on novel senotherapeutic drugs

Exeter, United Kingdom – September 10, 2024: SENISCA SENISCA, a biotechnology company developing RNA-based therapeutics to combat cellular ageing and treat age-related diseases, today announces the appointment of Tim Edwards as Chairman of its Board. He succeeds Dr. David Chiswell, Ph.D., OBE, Chairman of the SENISCA Board from 2023, who recently passed away after a short illness.

Tim Edwards has over 30 years of leadership experience in the life sciences sector, during which time he has played a significant role in the development of numerous private and public biotechnology companies.

Tim is currently Chairman of Schroders Capital Global Innovation Trust plc (LSE:INOV), providing access to the world’s leading growth companies, wherever they are in the world. He also serves as Chairman of Storm Therapeutics Ltd, EndLyz Therapeutics Inc. and AstronauTx Ltd.

He joins the SENISCA Board after leading two exits through commercial sale, as Chairman of Atopix Therapeutics Limited acquired by Chiesi Farmaceutici SPA in 2016, and as President and Chief Executive Officer of Cellzome Inc. acquired by GlaxoSmithKline plc in 2012.

Tim has also previously served as Chair of the UK BioIndustry Association and as a Board Member of InnovateUK, the UK’s innovation agency, Non-Executive Director of the Cell & Gene Therapy Catapult and as a member of the Department of Health’s Ministerial Industrial Strategy Group (Life Sciences).

Dr Sarah Cole, Chief Executive of SENISCA, commented: “We are honored to welcome Tim as leader of the SENISCA Board. His extensive knowledge of the sector and strong experience in leading growth companies to the next stage of development will be invaluable to SENISCA as we continue our journey to become a groundbreaking clinical-stage senotherapeutic company.

“We also pay tribute to our friend and colleague David Chiswell, who will be remembered for his enormous contribution to British natural sciences. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Tim Edwards, CEO of SENISCA, commented: “I am delighted to be joining SENISCA at an important stage in the development of this exciting company. The rapidly evolving field of senotherapy has enormous potential to transform the treatment of age-related conditions. As Chairman, I look forward to working with the SENISCA Board and leadership team as we continue to make progress and begin to realize this potential.”

– It’s ending –

More information
Sarah Cole
General Director, SENISCA
[email protected]

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Chris Welsh, Evi Useh
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About SENISCA

SENISCA is an award-winning RNA therapeutics spin-out from the University of Exeter. The company focuses on modulating RNA biology to treat age-related conditions. Building on over 15 years of world-leading research, SENISCA has identified a formally recognised, novel and druggable component of the cellular ageing response (senescence) that can be specifically targeted across a range of pharmacological and skin health indications.

The company is developing a portfolio of proprietary therapeutics that target cellular senescence (senotherapeutics) for the treatment of age-related diseases. SENISCA senotherapeutics specifically target a novel cellular pathway that leads to partial reprogramming of senescent cells and positively affects disease-modifying markers in complex patient-derived models.

The SENISCA technology platform has broad application to age-related conditions and the treatment of many age-related diseases, including diseases of the eye, lung, joints, and brain. For many of these diseases, current treatments are palliative rather than curative, with variable success rates. These diseases represent a large unmet medical need, are amenable to local therapeutic delivery, and are driven by aging. Focusing on these specific diseases will streamline progression to the clinic by avoiding the potential pitfalls of systemic administration.

SENISCA’s new senotherapeutics will be mined and commercialized through partnerships or co-creation models that will coexist with internal programs. If you would like to learn more about SENISCA, please contact Jennie Jepperson, Executive Assistant at SENISCA ([email protected]).