CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Disarm Therapeutics, a biotechnology company creating a new class of disease-modifying therapeutics for patients with axonal degeneration, a central driver of neurological disease, today announced that Robert Copeland, PhD, and Kimi Iguchi, CPA, have joined its board of directors.

“We are thrilled that Kimi and Bob have joined us as we develop therapies for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis,” said Jason Rhodes, Chairman and Founder of Disarm Therapeutics. “Both bring deep experience in creating breakthrough therapeutics and building innovative biotech companies. Disarm will benefit greatly from their scientific and business expertise.”

Dr. Copeland is a prolific drug hunter, having brought 18 drugs into human clinical development with three NDA approvals to date. Most recently, he founded and leads Accent Therapeutics, a company translating RNA-modifying protein biology into new therapies for cancer. Ms. Iguchi is a proven company builder. A chemist by training, she is the chief financial officer and treasurer at Sage Therapeutics, Inc., where she steered the company through its 2014 IPO and contributed to advancing four therapies into clinical development so far.

“SARM1 is a well-validated target with exceptional potential, and Disarm’s team is doing outstanding work in executing its strategy to develop the first drug to prevent axonal degeneration,” said Dr. Copeland. “I’m excited to help the company to advance its disease-modifying small molecule inhibitors in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, where therapies addressing the underlying pathology are much needed.”

“Preventing axonal degeneration has the opportunity to dramatically impact multiple neurodegenerative diseases,” said Ms. Iguchi. “I am looking forward to working with the board and Disarm’s leadership team to build this important new biotech company.”

About Disarm Therapeutics
Disarm Therapeutics is a biotechnology company that is creating a new class of disease-modifying therapeutics for patients with axonal degeneration, a central driver of neurological disease-causing disability and disease progression. By inhibiting the SARM1 protein, identified by the company’s scientific founders as the central driver of axonal degeneration, these therapeutics may prevent the loss of axons in chronic and acute diseases of the central, ocular, and peripheral nervous systems. For a broad range of diseases including multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, glaucoma, and peripheral neuropathies, the therapeutic goal is to prevent further degeneration, stabilize disease, and allow for functional recovery. Disarm was founded by Atlas Venture, Dr. Jeffrey Milbrandt and Dr. Aaron DiAntonio of Washington University in St. Louis, and a team of exceptional scientists and drug developers committed to developing a new treatment paradigm for patients with neurological diseases. For more information, please visit www.disarmtx.com.

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