GlobeNewswire Inc | Dec 2, 2020 08:00AM EST

December 02, 2020

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wave Life Sciences Ltd. (Nasdaq: WVE), a clinical-stage genetic medicines company committed to delivering life-changing treatments for people battling devastating diseases, announced today that Jonathan Rosin has been appointed as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). As CHRO, Mr. Rosin will provide strategic enterprise counsel and leadership, both as a member of Waves Executive Team and by leading the human resources function.

Jonathan is an accomplished leader with the breadth of human resources experience necessary to help guide Wave as we prepare to support five programs in clinical trials in 2021, as well as advance a robust preclinical portfolio and our novel discovery and drug development platform, said Paul Bolno, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wave Life Sciences. Wave is growing and having Jonathan at the helm of our HR function, as well as on our leadership team, will ensure that we continue to build a world-class organization, scale smartly, and maintain Waves special culture.

Mr. Rosin joins Wave with more than 25 years of experience in human resources, organization development, talent strategy, and leadership and team development. Prior to joining Wave, Mr. Rosin spent seven years as CHRO at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals where he served as a member of the executive operating committee. During his tenure at Ironwood, he was instrumental in building organizational capabilities and shaping the culture to support the companys transition into a fully integrated biotechnology company, and continuously sought to upgrade Ironwoods capabilities and focus on execution. Prior to joining Ironwood, he held human resources roles of increasing responsibility at Sanofi Genzyme and Fidelity Investments, among others. He has also consulted globally across industries as well as with multiple biotechnology companies to help build high-performing teams and to provide leadership coaching.

I am thrilled to be joining Wave at such an exciting and promising time, and to have the opportunity to partner with this exceptional team and individuals across the company, said Mr. Rosin. It is clear to me that Wave has developed and nurtured a unique and compelling culture that values innovation, inclusion, and making an impact on behalf of patients. I look forward to working with the team to continue transforming Waves vision into reality.

In connection with Mr. Rosin joining Wave, he received a share option award to purchase 53,000 ordinary shares of Wave and 27,000 restricted share units (RSU). The option and RSU were approved by Waves Compensation Committee and were granted to Mr. Rosin on December 1, 2020 outside of the Wave Life Sciences Ltd. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, as an inducement material to Mr. Rosins commencing employment with Wave, in accordance with Nasdaq Stock Market Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The option has an exercise price of $8.95 per share, the closing price on the grant date, and vests over four years with 25% vesting on December 1, 2021 and the remainder vesting in equal quarterly installments over the following three years. The RSU vests over four years in equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

About Wave Life Sciences Wave Life Sciences (Nasdaq: WVE) is a clinical-stage genetic medicines company committed to delivering life-changing treatments for people battling devastating diseases. Wave aspires to develop best-in-class medicines across multiple therapeutic modalities using PRISM, the companys proprietary discovery and drug development platform that enables the precise design, optimization and production of stereopure oligonucleotides. Driven by a resolute sense of urgency, the Wave team is targeting a broad range of genetically defined diseases so that patients and families may realize a brighter future. To find out more, please visit www.wavelifesciences.com and follow Wave on Twitter @WaveLifeSci.

Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding Mr. Rosins leadership and human resources experience guiding the company as it advances its clinical trials, preclinical portfolio and discovery and drug development platform; and beliefs that Mr. Rosins ability will help the growth of the company and its culture. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in these statements. The words may, will, could, would, should, expect, plan, anticipate, intend, believe, estimate, predict, project, potential, continue, target, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties described in the section entitled Risk Factors in Waves Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as amended, and in other filings Wave makes with the SEC from time to time. Wave undertakes no obligation to update the information contained in this press release to reflect subsequently occurring events or circumstances.

Investor Contact:Graham Morrell781-686-9600gmorrell@wavelifesci.com

Media Contact:Alicia Suter617-949-4817asuter@wavelifesci.com