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Advisory board brings world-renowned expertise in GPCR biology and technology, and drug discovery to Septerna SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Septerna, Inc., a biotechnology company discovering and advancing novel small molecule medicines targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), today announced the establishment of its cross-functional scientific and drug discovery advisory board with seasoned industry drug hunters and leading academic GPCR biology and pharmacology scientists. “We are excited to welcome these highly accomplished scientists to our scientific and drug discovery advisory board,” said Jeffrey Finer, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Septerna. “They bring a wealth of experience and expertise in GPCR biology and pharmacology, structural biology, drug screening, medicinal chemistry, and pharmaceutical development that complements our internal team and scientific founders. Our Native Complex™ platform is already off to a fast start, driving an early pipeline of differentiated GPCR-targeted candidates, and our advisors’ insights and experience will be invaluable as we continue our momentum with our discovery programs and platform in the years to come.” Septerna’s new cross-functional scientific and drug discovery advisory board includes its academic co-founders, Robert Lefkowitz, MD, Arthur Christopoulos, BPharm, PhD, and Patrick Sexton, PhD, DSc, who are joined by: GPCR biology and technology advisors: Aashish Manglik, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Manglik’s research focuses on the molecular basis of GPCR signaling, and his expertise spans GPCR structural biology, protein biophysics, molecular pharmacology and protein engineering. Bryan Roth, MD, PhD, Michael Hooker Distinguished Professor, Pharmacology and Director of the NIMH Psychoactive Drug Screening Program at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Dr. Roth’s research focuses on all aspects of GPCR structure and function, ranging from atomic-level analysis of ligand-receptor interactions to in vivo studies, and his lab has contributed several new GPCR chemical biology technologies to the field. Denise Wootten, PhD, Professor of Drug Discovery Biology and Head, Metabolic Receptor Biology Laboratory at Monash University in Australia. Dr. Wootten’s research focuses on studying class B GPCRs using structural biology, cellular signaling, native tissue bioassays and animal pharmacology models. JoAnn Trejo, PhD, MBA, Professor of Pharmacology and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences Faculty Affairs at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. Dr. Trejo is an expert on GPCR cell signaling in the context of vascular inflammation and cancer and uses cutting-edge imaging technologies, proteomics, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology and animal model systems. Laura Wingler, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology at Duke University. Dr. Wingler’s research focuses on studying differential activation of GPCR pathways using multidisciplinary approaches, including biochemistry, biophysics, pharmacology, cell biology and protein engineering. Ron Dror, PhD, Associate Professor of Computer Science and, by courtesy, of Structural Biology and of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University. Dr. Dror’s research uses molecular simulation and machine learning to elucidate the structure, dynamics, and function of GPCRs and other biomolecules in order to guide the development of more effective medicines. Drug discovery and pharmaceutical development advisors: Craig Lindsley, PhD, William K. Warren, Jr. Chair in Medicine, University Professor of Pharmacology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry, and Director of the Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Lindsley has more than 20 years of drug discovery experience, including a successful industry career at Merck. He is an expert in allosteric modulation of GPCRs and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. David Lacey, MD, former Senior Vice President, Discovery Research at Amgen where he oversaw more than 100 preclinical projects spanning hematology/oncology, inflammation, metabolic disorders, and neuroscience. One of the many highlights of Dr. Lacey’s distinguished academic, clinical, and industry career included playing a fundamental role in the discovery of the RANKL/RANK pathway, which led to the development of the anti-RANKL human mAb denosumab. John Lowe, PhD, former Medicinal Chemist at Pfizer. Dr. Lowe brings more than 30 years of drug discovery and development experience and expertise in synthetic and medicinal chemistry. At Pfizer, Dr. Lowe was a leader in neuroscience GPCR drug discovery where he discovered the first nonpeptide NK1 receptor antagonist as well as the atypical antipsychotic drug ziprasidone. Ruth Wexler, PhD, former Scientific Vice President, Small Molecule Drug Discovery at Bristol-Myers Squibb. During her career, Dr. Wexler successfully built and led high-achieving discovery teams spanning cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, fibrosis, and immunology that advanced 38 drug candidates into development, which included two important approved drugs, the antihypertensive agent losartan and the anticoagulant apixaban. William Charman, Ph.D., Former Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Monash University. Dr. Charman was the Founding Director of the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and his research and expertise spans drug discovery, drug delivery, formulation, and pharmaceutical sciences. “In this cross-disciplinary advisory board, Septerna has assembled a deep roster of experts with a broad range of expertise, particularly in the areas of GPCR pharmacology and drug discovery,” said Dr. Lindsley. “I think I represent the entire group of advisors when I say I’m truly excited to help Septerna take what it has built in its GPCR Native Complex™ platform and translate it into a powerful drug discovery engine that has the potential to yield multiple important future medicines.” About GPCRs G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest and most diverse family of cell membrane receptors, and humans have hundreds of different GPCRs, each involved in controlling specific biological functions. GPCRs on the surface of each cell bind a wide range of external signaling molecules from throughout the body, and the GPCR transmits the signal across the cell membrane to drive internal cellular mechanisms. GPCRs have been widely studied as drug targets and are the largest family of proteins targeted by approved drug products. An estimated 700 approved drugs target GPCRs, representing approximately one-third of all currently approved drugs. Despite the pharmacological success of GPCRs as a drug class to date, the large majority of potential therapeutic GPCR targets remain undrugged. About Septerna Septerna, Inc. is a biotechnology company creating broad new drug discovery opportunities across many disease areas for the abundant drug target class of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The company’s Native Complex™ Platform recapitulates GPCRs with their native structure, function, and dynamics outside of the cellular environment to enable new technologies for industrial-scale drug discovery for the entire GPCR target class for the first time. Septerna has an emerging pipeline of GPCR-targeted small molecule drug discovery programs, along with growth potential to reach many GPCRs that have been undruggable and unexploited to date. Septerna was launched in 2022 by scientific founders who have made groundbreaking GPCR discoveries and by founding investor Third Rock Ventures. For more information, please visit .

- Inaugural members include Dr. Taiyin Yang, Dr. John Lowe, and Dr. Mark Namchuk - BOSTON, Aug. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Sionna Therapeutics, a life sciences company dedicated to developing highly effective and differentiated treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF), today announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) with inaugural members including Taiyin Yang, Ph.D., John Lowe, Ph.D., and Mark Namchuk, Ph.D. The SAB will advise the company as it advances the development of a first-in-class portfolio of novel small molecules targeting the first nucleotide-binding domain (NBD1) of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. "We are fortunate to collaborate with world renowned experts in drug discovery, development, and manufacturing through our inaugural SAB as we pursue therapies that could be transformational for people living with CF," said Mike Cloonan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sionna Therapeutics. "Many people with CF continue to experience exacerbations, infections, and a burden on daily life. We are focused on a unique target, NBD1, with the potential to fully normalize CFTR function. The insights from the extensive experience of our SAB members will enhance our scientific approach and accelerate our exciting development programs." Dr. Yang brings more than four decades of experience in drug development and manufacturing. She is the former Executive Vice President of Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing for Gilead Sciences and held several leadership positions with the Company. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Kronos Bio and Kodiak Sciences, is a member of the Expert Scientific Advisory Committee of Medicines for Malaria Venture and was recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Yang was previously a director in research and development at Syntex Corporation. She earned a B.S. in chemistry from National Taiwan University and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Southern California. Dr. Lowe has more than three decades of experience as a medicinal chemist and currently serves as a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry with a focus on drug discovery projects. He was previously a Senior Research Fellow for Pfizer Global Research & Development and held several leadership positions with Pfizer as a research scientist and investigator. Dr. Lowe is a co-inventor of ziprasidone (Geodon) and was recognized with an American Chemical Society (ACS) Heroes of Chemistry Award in 2007 and was the ACS Awardee in Industrial Chemistry in 2011. He was inducted into the Medicinal Chemistry Hall of Fame in 2021. Dr. Lowe earned a B.A. in chemistry and history from Williams College, a Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, and completed a postdoc at Stanford University. Dr. Namchuk serves as the Executive Director of Therapeutics Translation and Professor of the Practice of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School. He has more than two decades of experience in biotechnology research and development, having previously served as Senior Vice President of Research and Nonclinical and Pharmaceutical Development at Alkermes. Dr. Namchuk also held leadership positions at Vertex Pharmaceuticals including SVP of Research, North America and started his biotech career at Cubist Pharmaceuticals. He earned a B.Sc. in chemistry with honors from the University of Alberta and a Ph.D. in bioorganic chemistry from the University of British Columbia. He was also a Human Frontier Science Program postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, San Francisco. About Sionna Therapeutics Sionna Therapeutics is a life sciences company dedicated to developing highly effective and differentiated treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF) by normalizing the function of CFTR, the key protein associated with disease progression in CF. Building on over a decade of extensive research on the genetic mutations associated with CF and founded in 2019, Sionna is advancing a pipeline of small molecules engineered to correct ΔF508, the most common mutation that affects the CFTR protein. The company has a first-in-class portfolio of programs targeting correction of NBD1, the key and unique mechanism to enable full restoration of ΔF508-CFTR function, and complementary programs targeting ICL4 and TMD1. Sionna's pipeline has the potential to deliver best-in-class efficacy and reach previously unachievable levels of long-term benefit for people with CF. For information about Sionna visit . Media Contact Adam Daley Berry & Company Public Relations 212.253.8881 [email protected] Investor Contact [email protected] SOURCE Sionna Therapeutics