Coya Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: COYA) (“Coya” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing biologics intended to enhance regulatory T cell (Treg) function, today announced that Arun Swaminathan Ph.D. has been promoted to the role of Chief Executive Officer effective November 1, 2024. He will succeed Dr. Howard Berman who will continue to serve in the capacity of Executive Chair.
As we look forward to and prepare for the release of Alzheimer's data at the upcoming CTAD24 conference on October 29, 2024 in Madrid and continue to progress COYA 302 in ALS, the company will benefit from leveraging Dr. Swaminathan’s strategic, business development, operational, and deal making experience to guide Coya through its next phase in the company’s growth. Over the last 5 years across multiple companies, Dr. Swaminathan was instrumental in executing several company significant commercial transactions in excess of $6 billion, including Coya’s recent Dr. Reddy’s Laboratory licensing transaction of up to $700 million.
Coya also believes it will benefit from Dr. Swaminathan’s leadership in advancing COYA 302 in related programs such as Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), and other immune mediated diseases.
Howard Berman, Ph.D., commented, “Coya has grown quickly to a clinical stage company and is poised, in partnership with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, to potentially bring these therapies to patients who desperately need them. We believe Arun has an incredible skillset to execute on each of these milestones. He has been a foundational member of this team, instrumental in consummating our up to $700 million licensing transaction with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. At this stage of our evolution, I can think of no one better skilled and dedicated to take us to the next level, to progress our assets forward in the clinic and execute new business deals, all of which we believe will create value for our shareholders.”
Prior to joining Coya as our Chief Business Officer, a role he has served in since April 2023, Dr. Swaminathan executed significant commercial transactions at Alteogen Inc. and Actinium Pharmaceuticals. He also was the founder and CEO of Lynkogen, Inc., a company developing GLP-1 fusion proteins. He began his career in clinical pharmacology and development and commercial roles of increasing responsibility at Bristol Myers Squibb and Covance and obtained his Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Swaminathan added, “I’m excited and grateful for the confidence Howard and our board of directors have placed in me. I look forward to expanding our existing partnerships and continuing to leverage my long-standing relationships and knowledge of the industry on behalf of the company and its shareholders, building atop the strong foundation we’ve together created over the last year. It is my mandate to bring our assets to patients as quickly as possible.”
About Coya Therapeutics, Inc.
Headquartered in Houston, TX, Coya Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: COYA) is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing proprietary treatments focused on the biology and potential therapeutic advantages of regulatory T cells (“Tregs”) to target systemic inflammation and neuroinflammation. Dysfunctional Tregs underlie numerous conditions, including neurodegenerative, metabolic, and autoimmune diseases, and this cellular dysfunction may lead to sustained inflammation and oxidative stress resulting in lack of homeostasis of the immune system.
Coya’s investigational product candidate pipeline leverages multiple therapeutic modalities aimed at restoring the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions of Tregs. Coya’s therapeutic platforms include Treg-enhancing biologics, Treg-derived exosomes, and autologous Treg cell therapy.
COYA 302 – the Company’s lead biologic investigational product or “Pipeline in a Product”– is a proprietary combination of COYA 301 (Coya’s proprietary LD IL-2) and CTLA4-Ig for subcutaneous administration with a unique dual mechanism of action that is now being developed for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Frontotemporal Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, and Alzheimer’s Disease. Its multi-targeted approach enhances the number and anti-inflammatory function of Tregs and simultaneously lowers the expression of activated microglia and the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators. This synergistic mechanism may lead to the re-establishment of immune balance and amelioration of inflammation in a sustained and durable manner that may not be achieved by either low-dose IL-2 or CTLA4-Ig alone.
For more information about Coya, please visit www.coyatherapeutics.com
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