Kiniciti Welcomes Two Cell and Gene Therapy Industry Leaders to its Advisory Board

Kiniciti Welcomes Two Cell and Gene Therapy Industry Leaders to its Advisory Board

Dr. Denis Bedoret, chief executive officer at Imcyse, and Andrew Knudten, chief operating officer at Jaguar Gene Therapy, join Kiniciti Advisory Board

New York, N.Y (March 22, 2021) – Kiniciti, a Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (“WCAS”) platform company that invests in non-therapeutic companies supporting Cell and Gene Therapy innovation, announced the formation of an Advisory Board and appointment of two inaugural members: Denis Bedoret, PhD, chief executive officer of Imcyse, and Andrew Knudten, chief operating officer of Jaguar Gene Therapy.

The members of the Advisory Board will offer their unique perspectives and specialized expertise across the Cell and Gene Therapy ecosystem to Kiniciti as it evaluates and executes on investment opportunities, including insights into technology developments, process science and regulatory trends. 

 “Denis and Andrew each represent world-class expertise in Cell and Gene Therapy, leading the industry in the application of technology and process science at scale to deliver commercial-ready therapies,” said Geoffrey Glass, CEO of Kiniciti.

“Working at the frontier of Gene Therapy, I know first-hand how many companies can benefit from the deployment of capital and the development and execution of focused growth strategies to enable the commercialization of advanced therapies,” said Mr. Knudten. “I’m excited to be part of the team.”

“In order for the Cell and Gene Therapy industry to deliver the promise of curative therapies to patients, significant challenges must still be met,” said Dr. Bedoret. “Not just with capital, but also with the deep expertise Kiniciti provides in growing and globalizing technology-based businesses.”

Denis Bedoret, Ph.D., is CEO of Imcyse, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of active, specific immunotherapies for the treatment of severe, chronic autoimmune diseases. Prior to Imcyse, Dr. Bedoret was CEO at MaSTherCell SA, Belgium and president of MaSTherCell Global Inc., U.S., for four years. Under his leadership, the company expanded significantly, becoming a leading CDMO in Cell Therapy manufacturing, and was acquired by Catalent Pharma Solutions, Inc. Prior to leading MaSTherCell, Dr. Bedoret held the position of chief operations officer at Quality Assistance S.A., a leading European analytical CRO, where he was also a member of the Board of Directors. Before that, he served as engagement manager at McKinsey & Company, focusing on life science projects. Dr. Bedoret holds a doctorate in Life Sciences from the University of Liège and completed a postdoctoral degree in Immunology at Harvard Medical School.

Andrew Knudten is Chief Operating Officer at Jaguar Gene Therapy, which is focused on advancing its pipeline of AAV9-based Gene Therapy programs targeting diseases with significant unmet need. Prior to Jaguar Gene Therapy, he was the chief technical officer and head of Technical Operations Strategy at AveXis, Inc., where he led the development and successful commercialization of Zolgensma^® from a manufacturing, process development and supply chain perspective. Andrew’s biotechnology career started in 1994 at Amgen, Inc., where he served in a number of leadership roles within Protein Chemistry, Product Development, Finance and Operations. He went on to leadership roles at Novartis, Hospira and other leading companies. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Health from Concordia University, a Master of Science degree in Cell Biology and Genetics from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and a Master of Business Administration degree from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.

About Kiniciti

Kiniciti invests in, and partners with, companies that have the potential to transform and strengthen the cell and gene therapy ecosystem. With a highly tailored, collaborative and flexible investment and strategic support model, Kiniciti aims to ensure the promise of cell and gene therapeutics is delivered quickly and safely to patients in need worldwide. The company’s leadership team includes professionals experienced in investing in and building successful companies across the life sciences sector. For more information, visit kiniciti.com.

About Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe

WCAS is a leading U.S. private equity firm focused on two target industries: technology and healthcare. Since its founding in 1979, the firm's strategy has been to partner with outstanding management teams and build value for its investors through a combination of operational improvements, growth initiatives and strategic acquisitions. For more information, please visit wcas.com.

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Media and Investment Opportunity Contact:
Geoffrey Glass
+1 (212) 650-4104
partnering@kiniciti.com