SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif – July 10, 2023 – Switch Therapeutics, a biotechnology company pioneering a new way to use RNA science to treat disease, utilizing its proprietary CASi (Conditionally Activated siRNA) platform, today announced the appointment of Douglas Fambrough, Ph.D., as an independent director to its Board.

“We are thrilled to welcome Doug to the Board. With an incredible track record of building successful RNA companies, Doug will bring strategic perspective as we advance CASi and continue to build our pipeline.” said Dee Datta, Ph.D., co-founder and CEO of Switch Therapeutics. “Doug is one of the first in the industry to commercialize RNAi and pave the way for future innovations in this field. His unprecedented experience, passion and drive to deliver new RNA treatments to patients will make a significant and positive impact on the future of our company.” 

Dr. Fambrough was Founder, President & CEO of Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, a pioneer in RNA Interference-based medicines that was acquired by Novo Nordisk for $3.3 billion in late 2021. Under his leadership of over ten years, the company optimized and perfected its GalXC RNAi technology, which was the foundation of nearly 20 drug development programs and six major corporate collaborations. Along the way the company completed a highly successful IPO in 2014, trading on Nasdaq as DRNA. Prior to Dicerna, Dr. Fambrough was a General Partner with the venture capital firm Oxford Bioscience Partners where he specialized in financing innovative life science companies with transformative technologies, twice appearing on Forbes Midas list as the second highest ranked life science investor. Dr. Fambrough originally trained as a scientist, obtaining his Ph.D. in Genetics at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1996 before working as a genomic scientist at the Whitehead/MIT Center for Genome Research (now known as the Broad Institute).

“I am honored to join the Switch Therapeutics Board of Directors and believe deeply in the promise of gene knockdown to address an array of unmet needs,” said Dr. Fambrough. “With CASi, Switch is advancing a novel class of drugs, with the potential to deliver cell selective RNAi activity, as well as efficient self-delivery and uptake, potency and durable gene knockdown. I believe this powerful technology could expand the reach of RNAi to potentially treat a number of central nervous system and systemic indications historically beyond the purview of RNAi-based medicine. I look forward to partnering with the Switch team to advance the company’s pipeline and, ultimately, deliver important new medicines that dramatically improve patients’ lives.”