RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--StrideBio, Inc., a leading developer of novel adeno-associated viral (AAV) based gene therapies, today announced the appointment of Deborah D. Ascheim, M.D., to the newly created position of Chief Medical Officer. In this role, she will lead all clinical initiatives including the strategy, design and execution of clinical trials, as StrideBio, both independently and in collaboration with key partners, advances a pipeline of therapeutic programs that utilize internally discovered, novel engineered AAV capsids that can improve potency, evade neutralizing antibodies and enhance specific tropism to tissues critical for efficacy.

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Deborah D. Ascheim, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of StrideBio (Photo: Business Wire)

Dr. Ascheim brings to StrideBio a 30-year track record of success as a physician, clinical investigator and director of national and international clinical trials, as well as extensive expertise in developing novel, disruptive therapeutic innovations including gene therapies that target rare and complex diseases. Prior to joining StrideBio, she was President of d2a Ltd., providing independent strategic consulting to biotech and device companies, as well as academics. From 2015 to 2019, she was Chief Medical Officer of Capricor, Inc., a biotechnology company evaluating cardiosphere-derived cells for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Before Capricor, Dr. Ascheim was Professor of Health Policy and Medicine (Cardiology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, where she was also the director of the International Center for Health Outcomes and Innovation Research’s Clinical Trial Unit. Previously, Dr. Ascheim was on faculty in the Department of Medicine and division of Cardiology at the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Columbia University. Since 2008, she has served on the board of Physicians for Human Rights, a not-for-profit that uses medicine and science to document and advocate against mass atrocities and severe human rights violations around the world. Dr. Ascheim received her M.D. from New York University School of Medicine and a B.A. from Wellesley College.

“Dr. Ascheim is an experienced clinician with an impressive track record in the effective and efficient execution of gene therapy investigations, and her wealth of knowledge will be invaluable as we progress StrideBio to the next stage,” said Sapan Shah, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, StrideBio, Inc. “We are pleased to welcome Dr. Ascheim to our leadership team as we continue to harness the potential of our proprietary platform and advance next generation gene therapies to patients in need.”

“I am thrilled to join StrideBio at this important time of growth and development for the company,” said Dr. Ascheim. “The extraordinary team in place has the scientific vision, rigor, and innovative approach necessary to advance the field of gene therapy. I look forward to taking on the leadership of the clinical development of StrideBio’s therapeutic programs, working to bring them to and through the clinic for the benefit of patients suffering from severe diseases.”

About StrideBio

Founded in 2015 based on the groundbreaking research of Mavis Agbandje-McKenna, Ph.D., and Aravind Asokan, Ph.D., StrideBio, Inc., is a fully integrated gene therapy company focused on creating best-in-class genetic medicines with life-changing or curative potential for children and adults. Our proprietary structure-inspired adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector engineering platform (STRIVE™) creates unique and differentiated capsids that overcome current limitations of first-generation gene therapies. Key targeted improvements include reduced seroprevalence, improved tropism for specific cell types, liver de-targeting and increased gene transfer efficiency, with the potential for improved safety and reduced doses in the clinic. StrideBio is advancing a robust pipeline of gene therapy candidates enabled by these novel engineered capsids, initially focused on genetically defined CNS and cardiovascular disorders. Combined with our genetic construct design expertise and in-house manufacturing capability at a 1000L scale, we are well positioned to advance novel best-in-class AAV gene therapies. StrideBio is based in a state-of-the-art 40,000-square-foot facility in Research Triangle Park, N.C., which houses our offices, research labs and in-house AAV manufacturing facilities. For more information, please visit www.stridebio.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

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