2seventy bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSVT), announced today that Eli
Casdin, Chief Investment Officer, and Founder of Casdin Capital,
and Charles Newton, Chief Financial Officer, Lyell Immunopharma,
have been appointed as new independent members of the Company’s
Board of Directors (the “Board”), effective immediately. Casdin
Capital owns approximately 2.3% of 2seventy bio’s outstanding
shares as of 03/20/24.
“We are pleased to welcome Eli and Charlie to the 2seventy
Board,” said Dan Lynch, chair of the Board of Directors. “Eli is a
highly regarded, leading life sciences and healthcare investor and
has a deep understanding of and history with the Company. Charlie
has a track record of helping companies navigate through key value
inflection points in their pipeline. We are confident that Eli, who
adds an important shareholder perspective, and Charlie, who brings
valuable industry expertise, will be strong voices on our Board as
we advance our strategic re-alignment and reshape 2seventy to best
deliver for our patients and shareholders.”
“At a pivotal and important point in 2seventy’s business
evolution, it’s an exciting time to be more involved formally,”
said Eli Casdin. “With a commercial product positioned to reach
more patients and a great partner to accomplish that with, I look
forward to joining the board and adding my voice to the strategic
thinking and work ahead.”
“2seventy is an outstanding company comprised of a team that I
have long held in high regard,” said Charlie Newton. “I am eager to
join the Board and work with the management team as we advance
therapies that give patients a chance at more life.”
Upon the appointment of Mr. Casdin and Mr. Newton, and as
previously announced at the closing of the transaction with
Regeneron, 2seventy bio’s Board of Directors will temporarily
comprise nine members through June, until Dan Lynch steps down from
the Board and Nick Leschly becomes Chairman. With today’s
announcement, three directors are expected to stand for election at
the 2024 Annual Meeting.
Separately, the Company noted that it received a notice of
nomination from Engine Capital for two individuals to stand for
election to 2seventy’s Board of Directors at the 2024 Annual
Meeting. Engine’s two nominees were included in the Board’s
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee process that it
undertook to identify new directors resulting in today’s
appointments of Messrs. Casdin and Newton.
The Board will present its recommendation with respect to the
election of directors in the Company’s proxy statement, which will
be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and mailed to
all shareholders eligible to vote at the Company’s 2024 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders, which has not yet been scheduled.
About Eli Casdin
Mr. Casdin is a significant 2seventy shareholder and has spent
the last 20 years analyzing and investing in disruptive
technologies and business models in life sciences and healthcare.
He has served as Chief Investment Officer and Founder of his
namesake research investment firm, Casdin Capital, LLC, which is
focused on the innovations in molecular medicine, since 2011.
Prior to founding Casdin Capital, Eli was a Vice President at
Alliance Bernstein “thematic” based investment group where he
researched and invested in the implications of new technologies for
the life science and healthcare sectors. His Alliance Bernstein
black book, “The Dawn of Molecular Medicine” detailed in 2011 the
early yet already accelerating wave of innovations in life
sciences, and the next wave of investment opportunities. Eli’s
prior experience includes time at Bear Stearns and Cooper Hill
Partners, a healthcare focused investment firm.
Mr. Casdin has sat on numerous public and private company
Boards, including currently on two public boards including Standard
BioTools, since April 2022 and during its merger with SomaLogic and
GeneDx following its merger with Sema4 in May 2022; He also
currently serves on several non-profit boards including The
Rockefeller University; the New York Genome Center, and Columbia
University School of General Studies.
Mr. Casdin earned a B.S. from Columbia University and an MBA
from Columbia Business School.
About Charles Newton
Mr. Newton has decades of financial and executive experience in
the healthcare industry. Since February 2021, Mr. Newton has served
as Chief Financial Officer of Lyell Immunopharma, a fully
integrated clinical-stage T-cell reprogramming company advancing a
diverse pipeline of cell therapies for patients with solid
tumors.
Prior to Lyell, he was at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where
he served as Managing Director and Co-Head of Healthcare Investment
Banking in the Americas. He was previously with Credit Suisse as
Managing Director and Co-Head of Healthcare Investment Banking in
the Americas. Prior to that, he spent 14 years with Morgan Stanley,
ultimately becoming Managing Director and Head of Western Region
Healthcare Investment Banking. Earlier in his career, he was an
Investment Banking Analyst with Lehman Brothers and a Financial
Analyst with Mercer Global Advisors. Mr. Newton has advised on
approximately $200 billion in mergers and acquisitions and raised
nearly $60 billion in capital during his investment banking
career.
Mr. Newton has served on the Board of Coherus BioSciences since
2022. He also served on the Board of Carmot Therapeutics until its
acquisition by Roche.
Mr. Newton earned a B.S. from Miami University and an MBA from
The Tuck School at Dartmouth College.
About 2seventy bio
Our name, 2seventy bio, reflects why we do what we do - TIME.
Cancer rips time away, and our goal is to work at the maximum speed
of translating human thought into action – 270 miles per hour – to
give the people we serve more time. With a deep understanding of
the human body’s immune response to tumor cells and how to
translate cell therapies into practice, we’re applying this
knowledge to deliver the first FDA-approved CAR T cell therapy for
multiple myeloma to as many patients as possible. Importantly, we
remain focused on accomplishing our mission by staying genuine and
authentic to our “why” and keeping our people and culture top of
mind every day.
For more information, visit www.2seventybio.com.
Follow 2seventy bio on social media: X (Twitter) and
LinkedIn.
2seventy bio is a trademark of 2seventy bio, Inc.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. The forward-looking statements set forth in this press
release include statements about our plans and strategies; and
statements about our upcoming 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
(the “2024 Annual Meeting”), uncertainties regarding future actions
that may be taken by Engine Capital LP in connection with the
company’s 2024 Annual Meeting. In addition, statements containing
words such as “guidance,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,”
“intend,” “plan,” “project,” “projections,” “business outlook,” and
“estimate” or similar expressions constitute forward-looking
statements. Actual results may differ materially from the results
predicted, and reported results should not be considered an
indication of future performance. These forward-looking statements
involve risks and uncertainties regarding the company’s future
financial performance; could cause actual results or developments
to differ materially from those indicated due to a number of
factors affecting the Company’s operations, markets, products and
services; and are based on current expectations, estimates and
projections about the company’s industry, financial condition,
operating performance and results of operations, including certain
assumptions related thereto. Potential risks and uncertainties that
could affect the company’s operating and financial results are
described in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov) on March 7, 2024, as such
risks and uncertainties may be updated from time to time in the
Company’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, information
under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” These
risks and uncertainties include, among others: our limited
independent operating history and the risk that our accounting and
other management systems may not be prepared to meet the financial
reporting and other requirements of operating as an independent
public company; the risk that our BLAs and INDs will not be
accepted for filing by the FDA on the timeline that we expect, or
at all; the risk that Abecma will not be as commercially successful
as we may anticipate; the risk that our strategic realignment to
focus on the development and commercialization of Abecma may not be
as successful as anticipated, may fail to achieve the anticipated
cost savings, and may cause disruptions in our business that could
make it difficult to achieve our strategic objectives; the risk
that may not be able to successfully or timely complete the Asset
Sale; and the risk that we are unable to manage our operating
expenses or cash use for operations; and any future actions that
may be taken by activist stockholders. The company does not intend
to revise or update the information set forth in this press
release, except as required by law, and may not provide this type
of information in the future.
Important Stockholder Information
The Company plans to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and mail to its stockholders a proxy statement and
accompanying WHITE proxy card in connection with the Company’s 2024
Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2024 Annual Meeting”). The
proxy statement will contain important information about the
company, the 2024 Annual Meeting and related matters. INVESTORS AND
STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER
RELEVANT SOLICITATION MATERIALS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE
THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. The company,
its directors and certain of its executive officers may be deemed
to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the
company’s stockholders in connection with the matters to be
considered at the company’s 2024 Annual Meeting. Information
concerning the company’s directors and executive officers will be
included in the proxy statement when filed. The proxy statement and
other relevant solicitation materials (when they become available),
and any and all documents filed by the company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, may be obtained by investors and
stockholders free of charge on the Securities and Exchange
Commission's web site at www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available
free of charge on the company's website at www.2seventybio.com.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240320941015/en/
Investors: Elizabeth Pingpank Hickin, 860-463-0469
Elizabeth.pingpank@2seventybio.com Media: Jenn Snyder,
617-448-0281 Jenn.snyder@2seventybio.com
2seventy bio (NASDAQ:TSVT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2025 to Feb 2025
2seventy bio (NASDAQ:TSVT)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Feb 2025