Leading Spinal Cord Injury Experts Join ReNetX Scientific Advisory Board

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Oct. 10, 2017 -- ReNetX Bio, a company developing first-in-class therapeutics to treat injury to the central nervous system, is expanding its Scientific Advisory Board with key opinion leaders specializing in spinal cord injury. Andrew Blight, PhD, brings experience as the former Chief Scientific Officer of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., where he helped move forward therapies for stroke and spinal cord injury (SCI) and ran two of the largest multicenter clinical trials in chronic SCI around the potassium channel blocker, 4-aminopyridine, which achieved FDA approval for the treatment of walking impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis. Blight also brings significant academic research experience, particularly surrounding the role of inflammation and demyelination in SCI, and held faculty roles at New York University Medical Center, Purdue University and the University of North Carolina where he was Professor and Director of the Neurosurgery Research Laboratory.

"I have closely followed the developing science behind ReNetX and I am delighted to see this technology ready to be brought to the clinic for testing in people with spinal cord injury,” Blight says.

In addition, ReNetX has added Daniel P. Lammertse, MD, to its Scientific Advisory Board. Lammertse served as Medical Director (1984-2008) and Medical Director of Research (2008-2016)at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, before becoming the hospital’s Emeritus Clinical Scientist upon retirement from clinical practice in 2016. He’s also Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Lammertse is an internationally recognized expert in SCI clinical care and rehabilitation. He has authored numerous scientific publications on topics in spinal cord injury, including ventilator-dependent tetraplegia, aging in persons with SCI, and the conduct of clinical trials in SCI. Dr. Lammertse is a past president of the American Spinal Cord Injury Association (ASIA) and was co-project director of the of the Rocky Mountain Regional Spinal Injury System.

In joining the ReNetX Scientific Advisory Board, Lammertse says: “I was impressed with the preclinical work that will enable moving to clinical trials and by the positive effects seen in chronic injuries. My expertise is in the pragmatics of conducting clinical trials in persons with spinal cord injury. I hope that my participation on the Scientific Advisory Board can be translated into a successful clinical trial research program.”

“Dr. Blight and Dr. Lammertse bring unparalleled expertise to our Scientific Advisory Board as we look to advance the next generation of therapeutics to provide hope to those with chronic spinal cord injury,” says Erika R. Smith, CEO of ReNetX. “Both are proven leaders in scientific advances and patient care around spinal cord injury.”

About ReNetX Bio

ReNetX Bio is developing first-in-class therapeutics to treat injury and damage to the central nervous system (CNS) in conditions such as spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, and glaucoma. The company was founded based on innovative technology from Dr. Stephen Strittmatter's work at Yale University to improve neurologic function after CNS injury – creating a significant and completely unmet need estimated at >$5B annually. The technology allows neurons to regrow by eliminating factors that inhibit growth and the technology platform has the potential to help restore function in patients who are suffering from spinal cord injuries, stroke and glaucoma.

For more information visit www.renetx.com or contact: [email protected]