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Kenai Therapeutics Welcomes Mark Gergen to Board of Directors

Kenai Therapeutics, an innovative biotechnology firm focusing on advanced treatments for neurological conditions, has recently announced the appointment of Mark J. Gergen, J.D., to its Board of Directors. This strategic addition aims to bolster the company as it accelerates its growth trajectory in the intensely competitive biotech industry.

With over three decades of experience in the life sciences sector, Mr. Gergen brings a wealth of knowledge in operational and transactional matters. His impressive background includes leadership roles at Poseida Therapeutics, where he served as Executive Chairman, among other senior positions. His extensive expertise is expected to be invaluable as Kenai Therapeutics progresses towards the next phases of its clinical development pipeline.

Nick Manusos, the CEO of Kenai Therapeutics, expressed his enthusiasm for Gergen’s appointment, emphasizing the importance of his operational insight in driving the company's future initiatives. As Kenai Therapeutics works to bring RNDP-001—a cutting-edge therapy for Parkinson's disease—closer to market, Gergen’s strategic oversight in financial and operational strategy will play a vital role in ensuring the therapy's success.

Overview of RNDP-001

The company's lead candidate, RNDP-001, represents a groundbreaking approach to treating Parkinson's disease. It is an off-the-shelf, allogeneic neuron replacement cell therapy designed to restore motor functions by replacing lost dopamine-producing neurons. Currently undergoing a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial known as REPLACE™, RNDP-001 is being evaluated for its safety and efficacy in adults suffering from moderate to moderate-severe idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

Remarkably, RNDP-001 has received Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recognizing the urgent need for novel treatments for Parkinson's. The ongoing REPLACE trail is notable for its multi-center design, aiming to document not only the safety and tolerability of the therapy but also to explore the brain's imaging evidence of cell survival, engraftment, and the reestablishment of new brain network functions.

The REPLACE trial is supported partially by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), which has a history of backing innovative research in regenerative medicine and gene therapies. CIRM has significantly supported the trial with grants aimed at advancing breakthrough treatments for various neurodegenerative conditions.

The Vision of Kenai Therapeutics

Founded in 2022 and headquartered in San Diego, CA, Kenai Therapeutics is committed to leveraging its proprietary, Nobel Prize-winning induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) platform. This platform underpins the development of its treatments, aimed at modifying the disease progression for patients diagnosed with severe neurological diseases. Beyond RNDP-001, the company has other promising programs targeting genetically-driven Parkinson's disease subtypes and other neurological conditions.

Kenai's partnership with FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics, Inc. ensures that the production of high-potency cell therapies can be scaled efficiently, addressing one of the major hurdles in biotech—a scalable manufacturing process.

Mark Gergen’s addition to the board marks a significant milestone for Kenai Therapeutics, as the company seeks to navigate the complex landscape of biopharmaceutical development and bring transformative therapies to market. His experience and strategic vision will undoubtedly aid in shaping the company's future, driving growth, and sustaining its efforts to innovate within the biotechnology space.

For more detailed insights into Kenai Therapeutics and its developments, visit www.kenaitx.com.