Charlton To Lead Transformation at OMass Therapeutics
Portfolio - People | Nov 15, 2024 | Syncona
OMass Therapeutics, a biotechnology company based in Oxford, UK, has announced the appointment of Professor Steven Charlton as their new Chief Scientific Officer effective from December 1, 2024. Professor Charlton brings over two decades of expertise in drug discovery and membrane protein research to OMass, succeeding Dr. Ali Jazayeri, who is leaving to pursue other ventures. Charlton's distinguished career includes positions at Excellerate Bioscience, Novartis, and SmithKline Beecham. At OMass, he plans to steer the company's projects, especially their MC2 program aimed at treating Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and Cushing's Syndrome, into clinical phases. CEO Ros Deegan highlighted this leadership change at a critical juncture as OMass advances its clinical candidates and expands its pipeline of novel small molecules. Backed by a significant funding round of over $160 million from investors including Syncona, the company aims to blossom into a fully integrated pharmaceutical entity.
Sectors
- Biotechnology
- Pharmaceuticals
Geography
- United Kingdom – OMass Therapeutics is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom.
Industry
- Biotechnology – OMass Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on discovering medicines targeting specific ecosystems like membrane proteins and intracellular complexes.
- Pharmaceuticals – The company is involved in developing small molecule therapeutics for rare diseases and plans to expand into a fully integrated pharmaceutical entity.
Financials
- $160M – Total funding raised by OMass Therapeutics from an international investor syndicate.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| OMass Therapeutics | Target Company | Company | A biotechnology company focused on creating medicines against validated target ecosystems, headquartered in Oxford, UK. |
| Professor Steven Charlton | Incoming Chief Scientific Officer | Person | A highly experienced scientist in molecular pharmacology and drug discovery, taking on the CSO role at OMass. |
| Dr. Ali Jazayeri | Outgoing Chief Scientific Officer | Person | Former CSO of OMass Therapeutics, known for his transformative contributions to the company's drug discovery approach. |
| Syncona | Investor | Company | A top-tier investment firm that has funded OMass Therapeutics in its $160M+ investment round. |