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Biopharma Veterans Kevin Young and Una Ryan Join Cortexyme Board of Directors
12 February 2019 - - Kevin Young, CBE and Una Ryan, OBE, Ph.D. has been elected to US-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company Cortexyme, Inc's board of directors, the company said.

The experienced biopharmaceutical executives join Cortexyme's board following a foundational publication in Science Advances and as lead compound COR388 advances into late-stage clinical development in mild-to-moderate AD.

Kevin Young, CBE has led a distinguished 35-year career within the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, with experience spanning a variety of therapeutic categories including cardiology, oncology, rheumatology, hepatitis, and HIV/AIDS.

From 2004 to 2018, Young served in positions of increasing responsibility at Gilead Sciences, most recently as chief operating officer.

Prior to Gilead, he served at Amgen and ICI Pharmaceuticals.

During his 12 years at Amgen, Young held positions in Europe and the United States, including as vice president of the US Business Unit, where he led the re-launch of Enbrel following Amgen's acquisition of Immunex Corp.

In 2011, Young was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, recognizing his services to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.

He completed his academic studies in the UK, receiving degrees in Sports and Exercise Physiology from Liverpool John Moores University and Nottingham University.

Una Ryan, OBE, Ph.D. joins the board with a deep background in the biopharma space, including extensive experience serving on the boards of public, private and non-profit companies.

She is currently an investor including as a managing director of Golden Seeds and as a partner in Astia Angel. Previously, she served as president and CEO of: AVANT Immunotherapeutics, a company developing vaccines and immunotherapeutics for cancer and broader health applications; Diagnostics for All; and Celldex Therapeutics.

As a scientist, Dr. Ryan is credited with the localisation of angiotensin converting enzyme as a target that led to the development of an important class of blood pressure medicines. In 2002 Queen Elizabeth II awarded Dr. Ryan the Order of the British Empire for services to biotechnology.

She subsequently received the Albert Einstein Award for outstanding achievement in the life sciences in 2007, as well as the Cartier Women's Initiative Award in 2009. Dr. Ryan obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Bristol and her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge.

Cortexyme is a privately held, clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics to alter the course of Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative disorders. Cortexyme is targeting a specific, infectious pathogen tied to neurodegeneration and chronic inflammation in humans and animal models.

The company's lead compound, COR388, is entering Phase 2/3 development; more information can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov. Additional proprietary small molecules are moving forward in preclinical development. Cortexyme has raised more than USD 100m in private financing from world-class investors, large pharmaceutical companies, and sophisticated family offices.
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