NRG Therapeutics appoints Dr Jonathan Savidge to board of directors

Neuroscience company NRG Therapeutics, Ltd. has announced the appointment of Jonathan Savidge Ph.D to its Board of Directors as independent Non-Executive Chair.

The Kynos Therapeutics CEO has over 20 years of experience in the biotech and pharma industries focused on strategic partnerships (investments, licensing, and M&A) to progress development of new therapeutics.

Before Kynos Therapeutics, Savidge was founding CEO of neuroscience company Syndesi Therapeutics, raising finance and building a team to develop a small molecule through early clinical development as a potential treatment for cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer’s and other disorders.

Syndesi was acquired by AbbVie in March 2022 for a total deal value of up to $1 billion (£800 million).

Jonathan Savidge said:

“I am thrilled to join the team at NRG as the company has generated exciting data from its discovery programmes targeting mitochondrial biology.

“Its novel approach to inhibiting the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) in brain cells, is compelling and represents a first in class mechanism for the potential treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and ALS.”

Savidge previously held senior business and corporate development roles at Evotec, Bicycle Therapeutics and Proximagen.

During this period, he led numerous varied partnership deals with pharma and biotech companies across both pre-clinical and clinical stage assets.

Savidge began his career in research at Novartis before transitioning into business/corporate development.

Neil Miller, NRG Therapeutics co-founder and CEO said:

“Jonathan has the ideal background and expertise to support NRG’s development as we drive our pre-clinical programmes through IND

enabling studies and towards the clinic.
“He brings a wealth of experience in fundraising and business and corporate development coupled with a strong scientific background in our therapeutic area, and a detailed understanding of drug discovery and development.”