AavantiBio: Dr Christopher Wright
AavantiBio, a gene therapy company focused on rare genetic diseases, has appointed Christopher Wright, M.D., Ph.D., as Chief Medical Officer.
A neurologist and neuroscientist, Dr. Wright has more than 20 years of medical research and drug development experience in specialty and CNS orphan diseases, including cystic fibrosis, dementias, epilepsy, mitochondrial diseases, and sickle cell disease.
Dr. Wright most recently served as Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Cyclerion Therapeutics, where he led global development functions across therapeutic areas, including clinical development and operations, regulatory affairs, patient safety, quality, and pharmaceutical development.
Prior to this, he led the global development organization at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, including responsibility for advancing the late stage and life cycle gastrointestinal and soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator programs.
Dr. Wright has also held senior medical and clinical roles at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where as senior vice president for medicines development and affairs he oversaw the development of Orkambi through Phase 3, and the successful development and approval of cystic fibrosis therapy Kalydeco.
Bo Cumbo, Chief Executive Officer of AavantiBio, said: “Chris and I previously worked together at Vertex. I know his extensive background in CNS diseases and specialized experience in orphan drug development, along with his unique perspective as a physician and scientist, will be essential to our mission of bringing transformative therapies to patients with rare genetic diseases.”
Dr Wright said: “I’m excited to partner with this experienced team to advance the development of the Company’s lead program in Friedreich’s Ataxia and broader pipeline of gene therapies to patients who need them most.”
