BEDFORD, Mass., March 09, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Homology Medicines, Inc. (Nasdaq: FIXX), a genetic medicines company, announced today that Julie Jordan, M.D., has been promoted to Chief Medical Officer. Previously, Dr. Jordan held the role of Senior Vice President, Head of Clinical Development and Operations, at Homology, and she has been instrumental in advancing Homology’s gene editing and gene therapy clinical programs. Under her leadership, Homology is conducting the pheEDIT trial for phenylketonuria (PKU) evaluating gene editing candidate HMI-103 designed to maximize PAH enzyme through both genome integration and episomal expression, and the juMPStart trial for Hunter syndrome (MPS II) evaluating systemic gene therapy candidate HMI-203 designed to address peripheral and central nervous system components of the disease. Initial clinical data from pheEDIT is expected mid-year and juMPStart initial data is anticipated in the second half of 2023.
“Since joining Homology, Julie’s extensive expertise in trial design, clinical development and operations, as well as the strong relationships she has built with the rare disease physician and patient communities, have been invaluable as we continue to move pheEDIT and juMPStart forward,” stated Albert Seymour, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Homology Medicines. “Julie and her team’s efforts have led to the first patient being dosed in our gene editing trial for PKU, the growing interest in our MPS II trial, and the foundation being laid to support the clinical development of our future pipeline candidates. Julie is a tremendous asset to Homology, and we all look forward to working with her in her new role as Chief Medical Officer.”
“I started my career in medicine because I have always been passionate about wanting to make a difference in the lives of patients and their families,” stated Dr. Jordan. “Being part of the Homology team has provided me the opportunity to develop and deliver potentially life-changing, one-time treatments to patients whose medical needs are not being met with standard-of-care therapies. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the community while advancing our clinical programs and pipeline.”
Dr. Jordan brought vast industry experience to Homology, including the design and execution of global clinical trials across multiple development areas. Prior to Homology, Dr. Jordan was responsible for clinical and scientific development activities at Cerevel Therapeutics, including global trials for schizophrenia, focal epilepsy and anxiety disorder. Previously, she was Executive Director of Global Clinical Development at Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., responsible for late-stage clinical programs for neuropsychiatry indications. Dr. Jordan held positions of increasing research and development and clinical responsibility at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, and prior to that was Medical Director at Medpace, Inc. Before joining industry, Dr. Jordan was a Clinical Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, treating patients at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Dr. Jordan holds an A.B. in Biology from Harvard College and an M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and she completed her residency in internal medicine at MGH, Harvard Medical School.
About Homology Medicines, Inc.
Homology Medicines, Inc. is a clinical-stage genetic medicines company dedicated to transforming the lives of patients suffering from rare diseases by addressing the underlying cause of the disease. The Company’s clinical programs include HMI-103, a gene editing candidate for phenylketonuria (PKU); HMI-203, an investigational gene therapy for Hunter syndrome; and HMI-102, an investigational gene therapy for adults with PKU. Additional programs focus on paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) and other diseases. Homology’s proprietary platform is designed to utilize its family of 15 human hematopoietic stem cell-derived adeno-associated virus (AAVHSCs) vectors to precisely and efficiently deliver genetic medicines in vivo through a nuclease-free gene editing modality, gene therapy, or GTx-mAb, which is designed to produce antibodies throughout the body. Homology established an AAV manufacturing and innovation business in partnership with Oxford Biomedica, which was based on Homology’s internal process development and manufacturing platform. Homology has a management team with a successful track record of discovering, developing and commercializing therapeutics with a focus on rare diseases. Homology believes its initial clinical data and compelling preclinical data, scientific and product development expertise and broad intellectual property position the Company as a leader in genetic medicines. For more information, visit www.homologymedicines.com.
