TMCnet News
Renowned Public Health Advisor Jim O'Neill Joins Board of Directors of ADvantage TherapeuticsBOCA RATON, Fla. and VIENNA, Austria, March 24, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADvantage Therapeutics, Inc. (“ADvantage” or “the Company”), which is developing therapies to treat neurodegenerative conditions with a central focus on Alzheimer’s disease, today announced the election of James O’Neill — a recognized leader in health, aging, and longevity — to its Board of Directors. ADvantage CEO Jeffrey Madden also provided updates on the development of the Company’s lead compound, AD04™ in Alzheimer’s Disease and introduced an advancement in the protein klotho designed to benefit longevity. “The addition of Jim to our Board of Directors signals the next level of development for our company,” said Jeffrey Madden, chief executive officer. “As we embark upon our confirmatory Phase 2b study for AD04™ in early Alzheimer’s disease, we are fortunate to have Jim’s talents and experience to guide us during this exciting time.” “In addition, Jim’s deep expertise in longevity will serve us well as we develop our mRNA technology to fight pathologies of aging by advancing and sustaining the capabilities of klotho, which many consider the longevity gene. We are developing platform technology to create a pipeline of [targets] to tackle the most common diseases of aging by using the klotho protein. We look forward to Jim’s guidance in this area,” concluded Mr. Madden. Mr. O’Neill began his career in public policy and helped lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the principal associate deputy secretary. He oversaw policy and regulations for NIH, FDA, and CDC. He helped structure the department’s $700 billion budget, oversaw two sweeping reforms of FDA, and led many other projects, especially in security, intelligence, preparedness, and health diplomacy. Since leaving government, Mr. O’Neill has advised or invested in more than sixty science and technology companies. While leading the Thiel Foundation, he co-founded the Thiel Fellowship. He also served as a managing director at Clarium/Thiel Macro, a global macro investment fund. As CEO and board member of SENS Research Foundation (SRF), Mr. O’Neill oversaw strategy and operations for a team of scientists who research, develop, and promote comprehensive regenerative medicine solutions for the diseases of aging. SRF supports research focused on a damage repair paradigm at labs across America and Europe. As global health advisor to Rational Vaccines, Jim advances the company’s mission to relieve suffering from all diseases resulting from herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2 infections. In addition, Mr. O’Neill supported the creation of the Armed Forces Institute for Regenerative Medicine, served on the steering committee of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, and served on the United States delegation to the World Health Assembly. O’Neill also served on the President’s Management Council, the Task Force on New Americans, and the Suitability and Security Clearance Performance Accountability Council, as well as frequently representing the Department on the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council, the Domestic Policy Council, and the Council for Environmental Quality. An advocate for global human rights, he has spoken at the Oslo Freedom Forum, the Human Rights Foundation’s annual gathering of dissidents, advocates, journalists, tech entrepreneurs, and artists. Mr. O’Neill lives in Marin County, California. He holds a B.A from Yale University and an A.M. from the University of Chicago. “Following tens of billions of dollars the industry devoted to the amyloid hypothesis, ADvantage Therapeutics’ approach to Alzheimer’s disease is fresh and extremely promising,” said O’Neill. “AD04 has the potential to radically improve the lives of millions. I am excited to collaborate with ADvantage to help propelit forward.” Mr. Madden made the announcement at the invite-only Entrepreneurship, Longevity, and Biotech Conference, which assembled biotech and longevity scientists and entrepreneurs in Boca Raton to share research and exchange ideas for improving the biotech and longevity industries. Sponsored by the Madden Center for Value Creation at FAU’s College of Business and in collaboration with FAU Health, the conference is being held today on the FAU campus. The conference features speeches by Moderna co-founder Robert Langer; former HHS Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan; Cambrian Bio CEO James Peyer; Kernel, Blueprint, and Braintree founder Bryan Johnson; and other biotech visionaries. About AD04™ The Company believes that rather than being limited to a specific aspect of AD pathology, such as amyloid beta or tau, the use of AD04™ may address the immunological mechanisms in the brain and peripheral immune system. The Company believes AD04™ may act as an immunomodulator, stimulating and/or regulating the immune system to reduce AD pathology. About Alzheimer’s disease About ADvantage Therapeutics About ADvantage Therapeutics GmbH Safe Harbor-Forward-Looking Statements Contacts: Jeffrey Madden CEO David Buchsbaum CFO For Media: |