Drug Farm Appoints Dr. Jeysen Yogaratnam as Chief Medical Officer

SHANGHAI & GUILFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Drug Farm, a China- and US-based biotechnology company focused on developing innovative treatments targeting innate immunity for hepatitis B, cancer and autoimmune diseases, today announced the appointment of Dr. Jeysen Z. Yogaratnam MB.BCh, MRCSEd, PhD, MBA, as Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

Dr. Yogaratnam has more than 20 years of clinical and drug development experience with significant expertise in the design, execution, and interpretation of Phase 1-4 clinical trials across a range of therapeutic areas including chronic hepatitis B, C and D, influenza, HIV, and oncology.

“It is my pleasure to welcome Dr. Yogaratnam to Drug Farm,” said Henri Lichenstein Ph.D, Chief Executive Officer of Drug Farm. “This is a pivotal moment for Drug Farm as we prepare to advance our first immune-modulator for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B into the clinic this year. With the addition of Dr. Yogaratnam, and his broad clinical development experience, we are confident he will add substantial expertise to the team as we advance our transformative pipeline of first in-class drug candidates capable of modulating novel targets in the host innate immune pathway.”

“I am looking forward to leading the transition of Drug Farm from a world class research-based biotechnology company, with its industry leading gene-based IDInVivo and AI Chemistry platforms, into a disruptively successful clinical stage company focused on uncovering novel immunological pathways to develop innovative, life changing medicines for patients with significant unmet medical needs,” said Dr. Yogaratnam. “I am confident that with the combination of exceptional scientific talents, novel drug candidates, an experienced management team, and the support for global key opinion leaders and patients, Drug Farm is going to positively impact the lives of many patients and their families.”

Dr. Yogaratnam’s received his undergraduate medical training in Dublin, Ireland at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Following the completion of his basic surgical training at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, United Kingdom (UK), Dr. Yogaratnam trained in cardiothoracic surgery in the UK. During this time, he also undertook a PhD in Biological Sciences at the University of Hull, UK. Following his academic surgical training and his PhD, Dr. Yogaratnam transitioned to the biotechnology industry. During his 14-year career in biotech, he has held roles of increasing responsibility and seniority which included leading clinical development programs at Aligos Therapeutics, Eiger Biopharmaceuticals, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Vertex Pharmaceuticals and Bristol Myers Squibb. Dr. Yogaratnam has also completed a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the Sloan School of Business, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). While at MIT, Dr. Yogaratnam also co-founded a start-up biotechnology company, MIFCOR, where he was CMO.

About Drug Farm

Drug Farm is a China- and US-based biotech developing innovative treatments targeting innate immunity for HBV, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. Drug Farm's unique IDInVivo platform combines breakthrough technologies in genetics and AI to discover new treatments. IDInVivo technology allows the direct assessment of gene targets in living animals with intact immune systems. Using the IDInVivo platform, Drug Farm has identified novel innate immunity pathways and targets and is now rapidly advancing multiple first-in-class drug candidates into clinical development. For more information please visit: www.drug-farm.com/

United States:
Henri Lichenstein, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
hlichens@drug-farm.com

China:
Tony Xu, Ph.D.
Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer
tony.xu@drugfarminc.com