Dr. Linda Rhodes Joins Akston Biosciences’ Board of Directors

BEVERLY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Akston Biosciences Corporation, dedicated to accelerating the biologics revolution in Animal Health, today announced the appointment of Linda Rhodes, VMD, PhD to its Board of Directors. Dr. Rhodes brings Akston thirty years of experience in the animal health industry as a scientist, senior executive, and board member.

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Industry veteran Linda Rhodes, VMD, PhD, joins Akston Biosciences’ Board of Directors. She brings deep “experience in how to accelerate high quality drug development in a small company environment,” said Todd Zion, PhD, president & CEO of Akston. (Photo: Business Wire)

Last month, Dr. Rhodes retired from the Board of Directors of Zoetis, Inc., having served there since 2017. She was the founding CEO of Aratana Therapeutics, where she grew the company, and led the development and FDA approval of three drugs in five years — Galliprant, Entyce and Nocita. When the company became publicly traded, she assumed the role of Chief Scientific Officer. In 2001, she founded AlcheraBio, a contract research firm dedicated to helping bring new animal drugs to market, which was acquired by Argenta in 2008.

She served on the Board of the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs from 2008-2023. As a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Michelson Prize and Grants, Dr. Rhodes has worked to facilitate the discovery of a single injection treatment for the permanent sterilization of male and female dogs and cats. She earned her veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and her PhD in reproductive endocrinology from Cornell. In 2017, she founded Feather in Her Cap, an organization dedicated to recognizing high-achieving women in the Animal Health industry. Two years later, Dr. Rhodes was honored by the Animal Health Corridor (AHC) with the Iron Paw Award for lifetime achievement in animal health.

Dr. Rhodes said, “I enjoy working with early-stage companies that have innovative solutions for animal health unmet needs. Akston combines a track record of inventing pioneering new therapies with the in-house capabilities critical to successful development to commercial manufacturing. I look forward to helping Akston leverage cutting-edge science to bring its products rapidly to market.”

“Akston is dedicated to accelerating the pace of innovation in animal health, building on our ultra-long acting dog and cat insulins that we licensed to Dechra Pharmaceuticals,” said Todd Zion, PhD, President & CEO of Akston Biosciences. “Linda’s experience in how to accelerate high quality drug development in a small company environment will be valuable as we develop our crop of new candidates.”

About Akston Biosciences

Akston Biosciences Corporation is dedicated to accelerating the biologics revolution in Animal Health by inventing, developing, and manufacturing breakthrough protein therapeutics for veterinary use. Its vertically integrated capabilities, including a kilogram-scale cGMP manufacturing facility dedicated to Animal Health, can significantly reduce the time and cost from discovery to commercial introduction. Akston leverages its Ambifect® Fc-fusion protein platform to create innovative, extended-duration biologics and therapeutic vaccines. Its facilities are located in Beverly, Mass. Additional information is available at www.akstonbio.com.

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