PRESS RELEASES

Boston, MA, September 27, 2023 – Chroma Medicine, Inc., (Chroma) a genomic medicine company pioneering single-dose epigenetic editing therapeutics, today announced the addition of innovative biotech business leader Michael A. Kelly to its Board of Directors.

“Michael brings decades of strategic finance and business operations experience to Chroma and builds on the deep expertise of our current board and leadership team. We are excited to welcome him as we pursue the promise of epigenetic editing for patients,” said Catherine Stehman-Breen, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Chroma.

Mr. Kelly is the Founder and President of Sentry Hill Partners, LLC, a global life sciences transformation and management consulting firm that he founded in 2018. In addition to Chroma, he serves as an independent member on the boards of Prime Medicine, Amicus Therapeutics, DMC Global Inc., and NeoGenomics Laboratories. Previously, he was a senior executive at Amgen, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President, Global Business Services. Mr. Kelly also twice served as Amgen’s acting Chief Financial Officer as well as the Vice President & Chief Financial Officer for International Commercial Operations. He has held senior positions at Tanox, Biogen, and Nutrasweet Kelco Company, a division of Monsanto Life Sciences. He serves on the Council of Advisors and was the former audit committee chair for Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization focused on health outcomes and disaster relief. Kelly obtained his B.Sc. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Industrial Relations from Florida A&M University. 

“Genomic medicine is a rapidly growing, cutting-edge field and Chroma’s highly specific and durable epigenetic editors have great potential to be transformative in the treatment of serious diseases,” said Mr. Kelly. “I am thrilled to be part of this important mission as the company continues to build the leading platform of epigenetic editing therapies.”

About Chroma Medicine

Chroma Medicine is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines that harness epigenetics, nature’s innate mechanism for gene regulation, to deliver precise, programmable single-dose therapeutics while preserving genomic integrity. The company was founded by the world’s foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a strong team of industry leaders and scientists with deep experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery, and development. For more information, please visit chromamedicine.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X (formerly known as Twitter).

Media Contact

Lia Dangelico

Verge Scientific Communications

540.303.0180

lia.dangelico@vergescientific.com

Boston, MA., September 21, 2023 — Chroma Medicine, Inc. (Chroma), a genomic medicine company pioneering single-dose epigenetic editing therapeutics, today announced it was named to the Endpoints 11 2023 list of the most promising biotechs by Endpoints News. This annual award celebrates companies with leading-edge science that are pioneering the development of new medicines.

Building on groundbreaking research from the world’s foremost genomic medicine experts, Chroma is rapidly advancing a new class of therapeutics that harness epigenetics, nature’s innate mechanism for gene regulation, to achieve unparalleled control of gene expression without cutting, nicking, or altering the DNA sequence. After securing a $135 million Series B financing in early 2023, the company presented compelling in vivo data at the 2023 ASGCT Annual Meeting in Los Angeles showing 99% silencing of two distinct gene targets, demonstrating the promise of its epigenetic editing platform.

“We are honored to be acknowledged alongside our peer companies where together we are breaking new ground,” said Catherine Stehman-Breen, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Chroma. “I am deeply grateful to our founders, investors, and partners for their ongoing support and to our Chroma team of dedicated and passionate individuals diligently working to progress our portfolio of highly differentiated epigenetic editing therapeutics to bring hope to patients living with serious diseases.”

Honorees were announced and recognized in an event held yesterday at the State Room in Boston. See the full list from Endpoints News.

About Chroma Medicine

Chroma Medicine is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines that harness epigenetics, nature’s innate mechanism for gene regulation, to deliver precise, programmable single-dose therapeutics while preserving genomic integrity. The company was founded by the world’s foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a veteran team of industry leaders and scientists with deep experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery, and development. For more information, please visit chromamedicine.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X (formerly known as Twitter).

Media Contact

Lia Dangelico

Verge Scientific Communications

540.303.0180

lia.dangelico@vergescientific.com

Boston, MA, September 20, 2023 – Preclinical data demonstrate durable silencing of HBV expression without cutting or nicking the DNA, nearly eliminating circulating HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) following a single dose of the company’s epigenetic editor

Chroma Medicine, Inc., (Chroma) a genomic medicine company pioneering single-dose epigenetic editing therapeutics, today presented positive preclinical data demonstrating the potential of its epigenetic editors to produce efficacious, specific, and durable silencing of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) during the HBV International Meeting 2023, held September 19-23 in Kobe, Japan.

Chronic hepatitis B is incurable, increases the risk of developing liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer, and impacts nearly 300 million people worldwide, accounting for more than 800,000 deaths per year. Antiviral therapy can suppress viral replication, but requires lifelong dosing and few patients achieve functional cure due to the persistence of covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and the integration of HBV DNA into the host genome.

Current gene editing approaches rely on targeted DNA breaks, which introduce risk for translocations or increased viral integration into the host genome, limiting their utility for effectively addressing HBV. By harnessing the endogenous cellular mechanism for regulating gene expression, Chroma’s epigenetic editors provide highly efficacious, specific, and durable silencing of HBV expression with the potential for a functional cure without introducing the unintended chromosomal effects associated with traditional gene editing approaches.

Chroma identified several epigenetic repressors across the HBV genome, targeting HBV cccDNA and integrated DNA from multiple genotypes, that durably and efficiently reduced hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in cellular models of HBV infection.

The data show a single administration of Chroma’s epigenetic editor robustly and durably repressed serum viral markers in transgenic HBV mice, with 5 of 6 (83%) animals exhibiting undetectable HBV DNA and HBsAg at the last time point tested (> 5 months).

“Our epigenetic editing approach holds the potential for highly efficacious, specific, and durable silencing of both episomal and integrated HBV, independent of virus genotype,” said Vic Myer, Ph.D., Chroma’s President and CSO. “These results are an encouraging demonstration of our platform potential as we advance a new class of genomic medicines toward the clinic and bring hope for functional cures to patients living with chronic HBV.”

Details for Chroma’s presentation at the HBV International Meeting are as follows:

Title: Development of HBV-targeting epigenetic repressors with deep, durable in vivo silencing of viral markers
Presenter: Yesseinia Anglero-Rodriguez, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, Chroma Medicine
Date and Time: Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 5:15p – 7:15p JST (4:15a – 6:15a ET)
Session: Poster Session I

The presentation will be available on the Chroma website following the meeting.

###

About Chroma Medicine
Chroma Medicine is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines that harness epigenetics, nature’s innate mechanism for gene regulation, to deliver precise, programmable, single-dose therapeutics while preserving genomic integrity. The company was founded by the world’s foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a veteran team of industry leaders and scientists with deep experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery, and development. For more information, please visit chromamedicine.com or follow us on LinkedIn and X (formerly known as Twitter).

Media Contact
Lia Dangelico
Verge Scientific Communications
540.303.0180
ldangelico@vergescientific.com

Brisbane, California, and Boston, Massachusetts, JULY 20, 2023 – Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO), a clinical-stage genomic medicine company and Chroma Medicine, Inc. (Chroma) a genomic medicine company pioneering single-dose epigenetic editing therapeutics, today announced they have entered into a research evaluation, option and license agreement to develop epigenetic medicines leveraging zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) for sequence-specific DNA recognition. Over the course of two decades, Sangamo has built and validated the world’s largest library of ZFPs, deploying them to address numerous therapeutically relevant targets.  Advancing the transformative potential of epigenetic editing, Chroma is expanding the versatility of its platform by leveraging Sangamo’s ZFPs. Following a research evaluation period, Chroma has the option to license the ZFPs for potential worldwide development and commercialization of epigenetic medicines for certain therapeutic targets.

“Sangamo is the world leader in zinc finger protein genomic engineering, and we are very proud of the range and depth of our capabilities in this area,” said Jason Fontenot, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Sangamo. “We believe our ability to rapidly design and engineer highly potent and specific ZFPs can provide unique and highly valuable capability beyond what is available with competing technologies. We are constantly seeking to deploy our technology with partners outside of our core neurology focus area and are very happy to explore combining our ZF technology with Chroma’s unique capabilities. We believe that this work will further validate the importance of zinc fingers as an ideal platform to support epigenetic editing.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Chroma will evaluate novel Sangamo ZFPs for specified collaboration targets outside of the central nervous system in exchange for an upfront technology access payment. If Chroma exercises its option for any or all targets, Sangamo would be eligible to receive an option exercise payment, in addition to potential development and commercial milestone payments, as well as royalties on any Chroma products incorporating the licensed ZFPs. Chroma will lead and fund all research, development, manufacture, and commercialization of products incorporating the licensed Sangamo ZFPs.  

“As a leader in epigenetic editing, Chroma has advanced and optimized our platform, showing highly efficient, specific, and durable gene silencing in vivo and the ability to accomplish multiplex epigenetic editing without induction of indels or chromosomal rearrangements,” said Vic Myer, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Chroma. “Leveraging Sangamo’s leading zinc finger protein engineering capabilities expands our platform optionality, further positioning Chroma to progress a broad portfolio of epigenetic editing therapeutics that spans several indications.”

About Sangamo Therapeutics 

Sangamo Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a robust genomic medicines pipeline. Using ground-breaking science, including our proprietary zinc finger genome engineering technology and manufacturing expertise, Sangamo aims to create new genomic medicines for patients suffering from diseases for which existing treatment options are inadequate or currently don’t exist. To learn more, visit www.sangamo.com and connect with us on LinkedIn

and Twitter.

About Chroma Medicine, Inc. 

Chroma Medicine is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines that harness epigenetics, nature’s innate mechanism for gene regulation, to deliver precise, programable single-dose therapeutics while preserving genomic integrity. The company was founded by the world’s foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a veteran team of industry leaders and scientists with deep experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery, and development. For more information, please visit chromamedicine.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Sangamo Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on Sangamo’s current expectations. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to Sangamo’s zinc finger proteins’ potential to be used with Chroma’s epigenetic editors, the potential for Chroma to develop epigenetic medicines leveraging ZFPs for sequence-specific DNA recognition, the potential for Sangamo to provide Chroma specific ZFPs designed for collaboration targets outside of the central nervous system and for Sangamo to receive an upfront technology access payment, the potential for Sangamo to design and engineer ZFPs to provide valuable capability beyond what is available with competing technologies, the potential for Chroma to exercise its option and for Sangamo to receive development and commercial milestone payments and royalties. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the research development process, including the results of clinical trials; the regulatory approval process for product candidates; and the potential for technological developments that obviate technologies used by Sangamo and its partners, the COVID-19 pandemic; the potential for Chroma to breach or terminate its agreement with Sangamo; and the potential for Sangamo to fail to realize its expected benefits from the Chroma agreement, including but not limited to further validating the importance of the zinc finger platform to support epigenetic editing. Actual results may differ from those projected in forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in Sangamo’s operations and business. These risks and uncertainties are described more fully in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Sangamo undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

Sangamo Contact

Investor Relations & Media Inquiries
Louise Wilkie
ir@sangamo.com
media@sangamo.com 

Chroma Contact

Lia Dangelico
Verge Scientific Communications
540.303.0180
ldangelico@vergescientific.com

Boston, MA, May 19, 2023 – Chroma Medicine, Inc., (Chroma) a genomic medicine company pioneering single-dose epigenetic editing therapeutics, today presented data demonstrating the advantages of epigenetic editing for multiplex gene regulation at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 26^th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles.

Chroma’s epigenetic editing platform harnesses the cell’s endogenous mechanism for regulating gene expression to durably modulate transcription without cutting or nicking the DNA, offering a potentially safer approach for multiplex editing. This avoids challenges associated with gene editing methods that rely upon DNA breaks to alter gene expression, which have the potential to induce unnecessary risks, including chromosomal rearrangements when multiplex editing several genes simultaneously.

Data presented today at ASGCT demonstrate the key advantages of epigenetic editing for multiplex gene regulation compared to Cas9-based approaches. Application of Chroma’s epigenetic editor to three different genes simultaneously accomplished durable silencing in primary human T cells. Sequencing and single-cell imaging assays indicated that multiplex epigenetic editing did not induce indels, chromosomal rearrangements, or other unintended genomic alterations compared to controls. Conversely, cells simultaneously edited using a Cas9 nuclease exhibited a significant number of translocations and other inadvertent breaches to genomic integrity.

“These results underscore one of the key advantages of harnessing nature’s innate mechanism for precise gene regulation. By modulating expression without cutting DNA, we can safely and efficiently target multiple genes simultaneously,” said Vic Myer, Ph.D., Chroma’s President and CSO. “Taken together with results presented yesterday demonstrating durable and highly efficient silencing of PCSK9 and hepatitis B virus, these data validate our platform and its distinct advantages, positioning us to advance a broader pipeline of epigenetic editing therapeutics.”

“Data presented at ASGCT by Chroma and our scientific founders represent an important step toward rapidly advancing these medicines to patients,” said Catherine Stehman-Breen, M.D., M.S., Chroma’s CEO. “We are committed to rigorously progressing our pioneering epigenetic editing technology and programs and are pleased to present data supporting the therapeutic promise of epigenetic editing for gene regulation while preserving genomic integrity.”

Details for Chroma’s upcoming oral presentation at ASGCT are as follows:

Title: Multiplexed Editing Without Chromosomal Rearrangements Using Epigenetic Editors
Presenter: Sahar Abubucker, Senior Director, Data Science
Date and Time: Friday, May 19^th, 4:45p PT
Session: Genome & Epigenome Editing Technologies

Chroma’s presentations will be available on the company website following the meeting.

# # #

About Chroma Medicine

Chroma Medicine is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines that harness epigenetics, nature’s innate mechanism for gene regulation, to deliver precise, programable single-dose therapeutics while preserving genomic integrity. The company was founded by the world’s foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a veteran team of industry leaders and scientists with deep experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery, and development. For more information, please visit chromamedicine.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact

Lia Dangelico
Verge Scientific Communications
540.303.0180
ldangelico@vergescientific.com

Boston, MA, May 18, 2023 – Chroma Medicine, Inc., (Chroma) a genomic medicine company pioneering single-dose epigenetic editing therapeutics, today announced in vivo data that demonstrate 99% silencing of two distinct targets and compelling proof-of-concept for its epigenetic editing platform. The data presented at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 26^th Annual Meeting showcase the rapid advancement of the company’s programs and platform.

The work describes the development of Chroma’s epigenetic editor targeting PCSK9, a well-characterized genetic target for addressing hyperlipidemia. The company’s epigenetic editor showed highly effective, durable, and specific silencing of PCSK9 in a transgenic mouse. Ninety-nine percent silencing of PCSK9 was observed following a single dose of Chroma’s epigenetic editor through a minimum of five months of observation with no detectable off-target changes in gene expression or methylation.

In addition, Chroma’s presentation highlighted the broad utility and modularity of its epigenetic editors. Data shared demonstrate that exchanging the PCSK9 targeting guide RNA with one directed towards the HBV genome induced robust and durable reduction of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) below the lower limit of quantification following a single administration in a transgenic HBV mouse model.

“These data illustrate the inherent power of epigenetic editing. The robust efficiency, durability, and specificity of silencing observed at two distinct targets underscore the advantages of harnessing an endogenous mechanism for gene regulation,” said Vic Myer, Ph.D., Chroma’s President and CSO. “In combination with our multiplex editing data—and data from the lab of our scientific co-founder Dr. Angelo Lombardo also presented at ASGCT—the results underscore the transformative potential of epigenetic editing as the modality of choice for gene regulation.”

The company expects to present additional data at upcoming scientific meetings, signaling advancement of its broad portfolio of highly differentiated epigenetic editing therapeutics for patients living with serious diseases.

Details for Chroma’s oral presentations at ASGCT are as follows:

Title: Development of a Human PCSK9-Targeted Epigenetic Editor with Durable, Near-Complete In Vivo Silencing Efficiency
Presenter: Aron Jaffe, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Head of Research
Date and Time: Thursday, May 18^th, 2:30p PT
Session:  Gene Targeting and Gene Correction: Liver

Title: Multiplexed Editing Without Chromosomal Rearrangements Using Epigenetic Editors
Presenter: Sahar Abubucker, Senior Director, Data Science
Date and Time: Friday, May 19^th, 4:45p PT
Session: Genome & Epigenome Editing Technologies

The presentations will be archived on the Chroma website following the meeting.

# # #

About Chroma Medicine

Chroma Medicine is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines that harness epigenetics, nature’s innate mechanism for gene regulation, to deliver precise, programmable, single-dose therapeutics while preserving genomic integrity. The company was founded by the world’s foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a veteran team of industry leaders and scientists with deep experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery, and development. For more information, please visit chromamedicine.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact

Lia Dangelico
Verge Scientific Communications
540.303.0180
ldangelico@vergescientific.com

Boston, MA, May 2, 2023 – Chroma Medicine, Inc., (Chroma) a genomic medicine company pioneering single-dose epigenetic editing therapeutics, today announced two oral data presentations that showcase the potential of its epigenetic editing platform at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) 26^th Annual Meeting, held May 16-20, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. The presentations include the first in vivo proof-of-concept data for Chroma’s epigenetic editing platform along with data demonstrating the key advantages of epigenetic editing for multiplex gene regulation. Chroma plans to release data from additional pipeline programs at upcoming scientific conferences.  

“These data showcase the power of harnessing an innate system for gene regulation,” said Vic Myer, Ph.D., Chroma’s President and CSO. “They also demonstrate the vast potential of this approach to unlock a new generation of genomic medicines and enable Chroma’s broader pipeline of epigenetic editing therapeutics.”

The presentations will be archived on the Chroma website following the meeting.

Details and overviews for the presentations are as follows:

Title: Development of a Human PCSK9-Targeted Epigenetic Editor with Durable, Near-Complete In Vivo Silencing Efficiency
Presenter: Aron Jaffe, Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Head of Research
Date and Time: Thursday, May 18^th, 2:30p PT
Session:  Gene Targeting and Gene Correction: Liver
Summary:

• Epigenetic editors have been shown to durably suppress gene expression by making localized changes in DNA methylation without cutting, nicking, or altering the DNA sequence.
• The work presented at ASGCT describes the development of Chroma’s epigenetic editor targeting human PCSK9 (hPCSK9), a well-established genetic target for addressing hypercholesterolemia which is characterized by elevations in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
• Preclinical studies in a transgenic mouse model indicate that Chroma’s optimized epigenetic editor can achieve near-complete silencing of hPCSK9 with high efficiency, durability, and specificity.
  
  

Title: Multiplexed Editing Without Chromosomal Rearrangements Using Epigenetic Editors
Presenter: Sahar Abubucker, Senior Director, Data Science
Date and Time: Friday, May 19^th, 4:45p PT
Session: Genome & Epigenome Editing Technologies
Summary:

• The ability to multiplex edit, or simultaneously alter the expression of multiple genes, is desirable for many applications, including for cell-based therapeutics.
• Genome editing approaches that rely on double-stranded DNA breaks to modulate gene expression have potential for undesirable effects, including large deletions and translocations. This potential is amplified with multiplex editing of several target genes.
• Data presented at ASGCT demonstrate the ability of epigenetic editors to facilitate genotoxicity-free multiplexed editing in healthy donor-derived T cells, as compared to Cas9-mediated editing.

# # #

About Chroma Medicine

Chroma Medicine is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines that harness epigenetics, nature’s innate mechanism for gene regulation, to deliver precise, programable single-dose therapeutics while preserving genomic integrity. The company was founded by the world’s foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a veteran team of industry leaders and scientists with deep experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery, and development. For more information, please visit chromamedicine.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact

Lia Dangelico
Verge Scientific Communications
540.303.0180
ldangelico@vergescientific.com

Boston, MA, March 1, 2023 – Chroma Medicine, Inc., (Chroma) a genomic medicine company pioneering single-dose epigenetic editing therapeutics, today announced the completion of a $135 million Series B financing led by GV (Google Ventures), with participation from additional new investors ARCH Venture Partners, DCVC Bio, Mubadala Capital, Sixth Street, and all existing investors, including Alexandria Venture Investments, Atlas Venture, Casdin Capital, Cormorant Asset Management, Janus Henderson Investors, Newpath Partners, Omega Funds, Osage University Partners, Sofinnova Partners, T Rowe Price, and Wellington Management. The financing will support advancement of Chroma’s therapeutic programs toward the clinic, and continued investment in the company’s core epigenetic editing platform.

“In the year since launch, we have made significant progress in advancing the pioneering work of our scientific founders towards harnessing the power of the cell’s epigenome to regulate gene expression and developing a robust portfolio of single-dose epigenetic editing therapeutics,” said Catherine Stehman-Breen, M.D., CEO of Chroma. “We’re grateful to this exceptional syndicate of investors, whose commitment enables our ongoing drive to introduce this new class of precision genomic medicines with curative potential to patients with serious illnesses.”

Current gene editing approaches regulate gene expression by cutting or nicking DNA, introducing risks associated with leveraging unpredictable DNA repair pathways. Chroma’s single-dose epigenetic editors harness the cells’ innate mechanism for gene regulation to precisely and durably silence, activate, and multiplex genes using a single platform, without changing the underlying DNA sequence. This groundbreaking approach enables Chroma to more effectively address a wide range of diseases and to target multiple pathways for complex diseases.

“Epigenetic editing opens the possibility of pursuing targets on the genome previously intractable with other therapeutic modalities; this includes the ability to target both protein coding and non-coding RNAs,” said Vic Myer, Ph.D., CSO of Chroma. “Our approach enables precise regulation while avoiding break-induced mutations, translocations, and rearrangements associated with other technologies, removing limitations on the number of simultaneous edits that are possible.”

“Genomic medicine is an exciting and fast-evolving field, and epigenetic editing has emerged as a promising new frontier for gene regulation,” said Issi Rozen, Venture Partner, GV. “Chroma’s technology enables durable modulation of gene expression—both individual genes and multiple genes at once—providing potentially transformative treatments for patients living with serious diseases.”

###

About Chroma Medicine

Chroma Medicine is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines that harness epigenetics, nature’s innate mechanism for gene regulation, to deliver precise, programmable single-dose therapeutics while preserving genomic integrity. The company was founded by the world’s foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a veteran team of industry leaders and scientists with deep experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery, and development. For more information, please visit chromamedicine.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact
Lia Dangelico
Verge Scientific Communications
540.303.0180
ldangelico@vergescientific.com

Cambridge, MA, October 4, 2022 – Chroma Medicine, Inc., (Chroma) a genomic medicine company pioneering single-dose epigenetic editing therapeutics, today announced the addition of Jeff Marrazzo, co-founder and former founding CEO of Spark Therapeutics, to its Board of Directors.

“Jeff’s leadership at Spark yielded the first-ever approved gene therapy, and we are thrilled to bring his expertise to the Chroma Board,” said Catherine Stehman-Breen, M.D., CEO of Chroma. “He is a proven company builder who has successfully led the advancement of novel genomic medicines to patients. His unique perspective as a gene therapy pioneer will be instrumental as we reimagine the future of genomic medicine.”

After co-founding Spark Therapeutics in 2013, Marrazzo built the company into the world’s first fully integrated, commercial gene therapy company, including securing regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and launching the first gene therapy for a genetic disease in the United States. As CEO, Marrazzo shepherded multiple gene therapies into the clinic for patients with conditions ranging from inherited retinal diseases to rare bleeding and neuromuscular disorders. During his tenure, Spark raised more than $1 billion in capital, established major partnerships with multiple pharmaceutical companies, grew to 850 employees, and created novel reimbursement models to ensure patient access to genetic medicines. In 2019, Marrazzo successfully orchestrated Spark’s $4.8 billion sale to Roche.  Currently, Marrazzo serves on the Board of the Life Science Cares Philadelphia and the Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement. Marrazzo holds a dual M.B.A. and M.P.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University.

“By leveraging nature’s highly evolved mechanism to regulate gene expression, Chroma’s unique epigenetic editing platform holds the exciting promise of precise, programmable one-and-done therapeutics that preserve genomic integrity. This approach is a step change in genomic medicine and holds tremendous potential to revolutionize the treatment of complex, polygenic diseases,” said Marrazzo. “I’m eager to work with Catherine and her leadership team to help bring breakthrough therapeutics and hope to patients living with serious illnesses.”    

# # #

About Chroma Medicine

Chroma Medicine is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines that harness epigenetics, nature’s innate mechanism for gene regulation, to deliver precise, programmable single-dose therapeutics while preserving genomic integrity. The company was founded by the world’s foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a veteran team of industry leaders and scientists with deep experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery, and development. For more information, please visit chromamedicine.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact

Lia Dangelico
Verge Scientific Communications
540.303.0180
ldangelico@vergescientific.com

Cambridge, MA, September 20, 2022 – Chroma Medicine, Inc., (Chroma) a genomic medicine company pioneering single-dose epigenetic editing therapeutics, today announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) comprising renowned leaders in epigenetics, cell and gene therapy, and synthetic biology: Bradley Bernstein, M.D., Ph.D., Paula Cannon, Ph.D., Howard Chang, M.D., Ph.D., and Ahmad (Mo) Khalil, Ph.D. The SAB members will provide key input to Chroma as the company advances its programs addressing a wide range of diseases.

“Each of these distinguished experts will be instrumental as we unlock the potential of epigenetic editing therapeutics,” said Catherine Stehman-Breen, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Chroma Medicine. “We are honored to welcome them to the Chroma team and eager to leverage their expertise as we build the future of genomic medicine.”

“The SAB is composed of scientific leaders whose seminal research has significantly advanced the fields of genome editing and cell and gene therapy,” said Vic Myer, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Chroma. “They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to Chroma as we continue to advance our platform with the goal of bringing novel single-dose genomic therapeutics to patients.”

Members of the Chroma Scientific Advisory Board include:

• Bradley Bernstein, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Dr. Bradley Bernstein is the Chair of Cancer Biology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Director of the Gene Regulation Observatory at the Broad Institute, Professor of Cell Biology and Pathology at Harvard Medical School, and an Investigator in Harvard’s Ludwig Institute. His research, focusing on epigenetic gene regulation, led to the discovery of “bivalent domains,” a signature chromatin state consisting of opposing histone modifications that poise master genes for alternate fates. Dr. Bernstein earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Washington.
• Paula Cannon, Ph.D.
  • Dr. Paula Cannon is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine. She leads a research team that studies viruses, stem cells, and gene therapy. Her work has led to the development of a gene editing approach to treating HIV, which is currently in clinical trials. Her recent contributions are focused on using CRISPR/Cas9 to engineer hematopoietic stem cells and B cells, with a view to long-term control of viral infections. Dr. Cannon earned her Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Liverpool.
• Howard Chang, M.D., Ph.D.
  • Dr. Howard Chang is the Virginia and D. K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research and Professor of Dermatology and Genetics at Stanford University. His research has pioneered methods for epigenomic profiling and identifying key regulators of large-scale transcriptional programs. Dr. Chang earned his Ph.D. in biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his M.D. from Harvard Medical School.
• Ahmad (Mo) Khalil, Ph.D.
  • Dr. Ahmad (Mo) Khalil is the Dorf-Ebner Distinguished Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering and the Associate Director of the Biological Design Center at Boston University, and a Visiting Scholar at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. His research has pioneered synthetic biology methods to dissect and engineer the molecular circuits that control gene regulation and epigenetic memory in eukaryotes. Dr. Khalil earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

# # #

About Chroma Medicine

Chroma Medicine is a biotechnology company pioneering a new class of genomic medicines that harness epigenetics, nature’s innate mechanism for gene regulation, to deliver single-dose therapeutics for patients with genetically driven diseases. The company was founded by the world’s foremost experts in genomic research and is led by a veteran team of industry leaders and scientists with deep experience in genomic medicine, drug discovery, and development. For more information, please visit chromamedicine.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Media Contact

Lia Dangelico
Verge Scientific Communications
540.303.0180
ldangelico@vergescientific.com