Kenai Therapeutics Appoints Dr. Derek Hei as Chief Technology Officer
Dr. Derek Hei, Chief Technology Officer, Kenai Therapeutics ● Photo Credit: Kenai Therapeutics
SAN DIEGO, October 26, 2024 (VSNewsNetwork.com) – Kenai Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) therapies, has announced the appointment of Derek Hei, Ph.D., as Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Hei brings over 30 years of experience in cell and gene therapy development, with expertise in manufacturing, cGMP compliance, quality control testing, and regulatory standards. He will be responsible for advancing Kenai's pipeline, including its lead candidate RNDP-001, a dopaminergic progenitor cell therapy aimed at replacing neurons lost to neurodegeneration.
Dr. Hei will also oversee supply chain management, GMP manufacturing, and development, in addition to managing the company’s partnerships, including its collaboration with FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics, a leader in iPSC technology and manufacturing.
“Derek joins Kenai at a pivotal time as we prepare to initiate clinical trials early next year for our lead candidate, RNDP-001, for the treatment of idiopathic and inherited forms of Parkinson’s disease. We are pleased to welcome him given his deep expertise in the development of cell and gene therapies, which will be indispensable towards the continued development of our iPSC platform in additional neurological conditions,” said Nick Manusos, CEO of Kenai Therapeutics.
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Dr. Hei has held leadership roles in companies such as Clade Therapeutics, Vertex Pharmaceutics, BlueRock Therapeutics, and FUJIFILM Cellular Dynamics. His work has focused on strategies for manufacturing therapies derived from iPSC lines, including gene-edited iPSCs.
"I am thrilled to join this team at the forefront of innovation in neuron replacement cell therapy development. I believe that Kenai’s pioneering approach has the potential to fundamentally change the way we treat Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions, and I am eager to support our goal of advancing RNDP-001 to patients”, said Dr. Hei.
For more information on Kenai Therapeutics, visit www.kenaitx.com.
Source: Kenai Therapeutics
