Benzinga | Mar 30, 2021 09:05AM EDT

Adverum Announces Senior Appointments For Patient Access And Clinical Operations As ADVM-022 Advances Toward Global Phase 3 Trials

Adverum Biotechnologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADVM), a clinical-stage gene therapy company targeting unmet medical needs in ocular and rare diseases, today announced the appointment of two experienced professionals to support its patient advocacy initiatives and ongoing clinical operations, effective immediately:

* Anand Reddi has been appointed vice president, patient advocacy, access, and digital innovation. In this newly created position, Mr. Reddi will develop and implement patient-centered strategies to maximize global access to Adverum's transformative advanced therapies. These therapies have the potential to provide a one-and-done treatment for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), two leading causes of blindness. Mr. Reddi will focus on maximizing the impact of Adverum's disruptive gene therapy program by leveraging innovative partnerships and digital innovation with patients, advocacy groups, governments, regulatory bodies, nongovernmental organizations, policymakers and global health multilaterals to support access, in-country operations, and advocacy.

* Bill Tan, PharmD, has been appointed vice president, clinical operations program lead. Dr. Tan will lead strategic planning and implementation of Adverum's clinical development programs. This includes overseeing Adverum's integrated global clinical development plans from a strategic, operational, and technical perspective, within Adverum's clinical operations team.

"These appointments, including the strength of our entire team and our scientific advisory board, underscore our commitment to advancing commercialization plans for ADVM-022 and ensuring that our one-and-done gene therapy is not only available, but also accessible, to patients globally," said Laurent Fischer, M.D., chief executive officer at Adverum Biotechnologies. "As we prepare to initiate two global Phase 3 trials in wet AMD in the fourth quarter and to present INFINITY clinical data for DME in the second half of 2021, it is imperative that we have the right strategies in place to support access and to champion the patient voice and experience. Both Anand and Bill bring valuable expertise and decades of experience in their respective areas, and I am confident they will contribute to our global mission to establish ocular gene therapy as a one-time treatment that preserves patient sight for life."

Arshad M. Khanani, M.D., M.A., managing partner and director of clinical research, Sierra Eye Associates, and clinical associate professor of ophthalmology, University of Nevada and a member of the scientific advisory board for Adverum, said, "As a physician who treats patients at risk of losing their vision with retinal diseases, I am thrilled that Adverum is committed to patient access strategies as they continue development of their innovative gene therapy, ADVM-022. As I'm an advocate for my patients, I am excited to be a part of the ADVM-022 clinical program that is designed to extend treatment intervals and possibly improve long-term patient outcomes with a promising one-time in-office intravitreal gene therapy. I look forward to enrolling patients in Adverum's two Phase 3 clinical trials as I believe this therapy can significantly reduce the treatment burden to patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system."