Dr Summers brings over 30 years of drug discovery and pharmaceutical research management experience to Mission’s Board. His most recent position was as Vice President of Neuroscience Research at AbbVie, where he led drug discovery efforts in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, pain, and psychiatric disorders.
Dr Colin Goddard, Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Mission, said: "We are pleased to welcome Dr Summers to our Board of Directors. Jim has spearheaded numerous transactions for AbbVie in the area of neurological disorders, including Mission’s collaboration with AbbVie for the development of DUB inhibitors to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. We believe his appointment as a Director will bring immense domain knowledge to our deliberations as a board and I look forward to working with him in his new role."
Dr Anker Lundemose, Chief Executive Officer at Mission, added: "Since the start of the AbbVie collaboration in November 2018, the Mission team has already benefited from the strength of Jim’s specialist knowledge and sector experience. We believe that he will be of tremendous value to the Company as we continue to progress our therapeutic pipeline.”
Dr James Summers, newly appointed Non-Executive Director at Mission, also commented: "In addition to its best-in-class DUB technology platform, Mission has researchers with a unique understanding of the science behind Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to support the Company as it works towards developing new treatments that positively impact the lives of patients with these debilitating diseases."
Prior to his role at AbbVie, Dr Summers was Divisional Vice President of Advanced Technology with Abbott, where he managed the organisation responsible for the diverse technologies and services that enable effective drug discovery research across the company. He has established new research sites in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Shanghai, China and led the way in refocusing the research strategies of this global organisation. He has also championed multiple successful deals, collaborations and investments and advanced more than 20 compounds into clinical development.
Dr Summers earned his Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, in chemistry from Denison University and his doctorate in organic chemistry from Harvard University.
Dr James Summers appointed to Mission Therapeutics’ Board of Directors
1 May 2019
Mission Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company focused on treating mitochondrial diseases, fibrosis and neurodegenerative disorders by selectively inhibiting deubiquitylating enzymes (DUBs), has announced the appointment of Dr James Summers as an independent member to its Board of Directors, with immediate effect.