Metagenomi Announces New Appointment to its Board of Directors
EMERYVILLE, Calif., Jan. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Metagenomi, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGX), a precision genetic medicines company committed to developing curative therapeutics for patients using its proprietary gene editing toolbox, today announced that Eric Bjerkholt, MBA, CFO of Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., will join Metagenomi’s Board of Directors, serving on Metagenomi’s Audit and Compensation committees, effective January 27, 2025.
“We are excited to welcome Eric to our Board of Directors,” said Brian C. Thomas, PhD, CEO and founder of Metagenomi. “His tremendous track record in the pharmaceutical industry as well as his experience in business development and capital formation will be an invaluable asset to Metagenomi as we continue to advance potentially curative treatment options for patients suffering from devastating disease.”
“I am thrilled to join Metagenomi at this important time of innovation and clinical validation in the broader gene editing space,” said Eric Bjerkholt, MBA, CFO of Mirum Pharmaceuticals. “I am excited to collaborate with the Board and the management team, which brings together some of the brightest innovators and industry veterans, to accelerate our development of precision genetic medicines.”
Mr. Bjerkholt brings extensive business leadership experience across a broad range of roles and is currently Chief Financial Officer of Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. He joined Mirum from Chinook Therapeutics, Inc. where he also served as CFO overseeing financial reporting, planning and budgeting, internal controls, investor relations, facilities, and information technology functions. Chinook was acquired by Novartis AG. Prior to Chinook, Mr. Bjerkholt was CFO of Aimmune Therapeutics, which was acquired by Nestle Health Science. Previously Mr. Bjerkholt worked at Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where in addition to CFO, he served in various capacities, including Executive Vice President of Corporate Development and Finance, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer. Mr. Bjerkholt has also held senior executive finance roles at IntraBiotics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., LifeSpring Nutrition, Inc. and Age Wave, LLC and spent seven years in healthcare investment banking at J.P. Morgan & Company, Inc. Mr. Bjerkholt holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Cand.oecon. from the University of Oslo in Norway.
About Metagenomi
Metagenomi is a precision genetic medicines company committed to developing curative therapeutics for patients using its proprietary, comprehensive metagenomics-derived toolbox. Metagenomi is harnessing the power of metagenomics, the study of genetic material recovered from the natural environment, to unlock four billion years of microbial evolution to discover and develop a suite of novel editing tools capable of correcting any type of genetic mutation found anywhere in the genome. Its comprehensive genome editing toolbox includes programmable nucleases, base editors, and RNA and DNA-mediated integration systems (including prime editing systems and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat associated transposases (CAST)). Metagenomi believes its diverse and modular toolbox positions the company to access the entire genome and select the optimal tool to unlock the full potential of genome editing for patients. For more information, please visit https://metagenomi.co.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward‐Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each as amended. Such statements, which are often indicated by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “look forward to,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions, include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs, including the timing of and our ability to conduct IND-enabling studies, make regulatory filings such as INDs, statements concerning the potential of therapies and product candidates, and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition, and stock value. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include: risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under, and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; risks relating to the timing of starting and completing clinical trials; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our dependence on third party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in “Risk Factors,” in our most recent Form 10-K and our most recent 10-Qs on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law, and we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Contact:
Simon Harnest – CIO, SVP Investor Relations
IR@metagenomi.co
