Innovative biotech Juvenescence has announced it has appointed Dr Grazia Piizzi as its Chief Scientific Officer.
Juvenescence Ltd, a life sciences company focused on modifying aging and increasing human healthspan, has announced that Grazia Piizzi, PhD, has joined its Executive Management Team as Chief Scientific Officer.
Longevity.Technology: Juvenescence is continuing to build its power-base ahead of its IPO, which is slated to happen later this year, and the launch of Metabolic Switch, a “ketone ester fuel”, also scheduled for2021. In addition, Juvenescence acquired Portage Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and its senolytic, p53, which it is keen to test. Dr Piizzi’s extensive experience means she will be well placed to guide this process.
Juvenescence creates evidence-based and science-backed therapies based on understanding of the underlying biological causes of aging. It is focused on increasing how long people live in health by preventing the diseases of aging in the first place. The Juvenescence team includes highly experienced drug developers, entrepreneurs, marketers and investors with a significant history of success in the pharmaceutical and consumer health sectors.
Dr Piizzi has more than 15 years of experience in the global pharmaceutical and biotech industry. Most recently, she was the SVP of Small Molecules R&D and Head of Inflammation at a Flagship Pioneering start-up, Cygnal Therapeutics, decoding the links between peripheral neurons and diseases (2019-2021).
“Science is changing how we look at aging and age-related diseases. I will work with a talented team to bring that science to real products and therapies that can transform lives…”
Previously, she held the position of Executive Director, Head of Molecular Invention, at Merck Cambridge (2017-2019) to build the new Exploratory Science Center (ESC) and establish a multidisciplinary team and platform to identify opportunities in infectious diseases, microbiome, and immune-cancer-microbiome interactions. Dr Piizzi also spent 10 years at Novartis Cambridge and Basel leading global teams responsible from target ID to clinical candidate selection across multiple disease areas.
Dr Greg Bailey, CEO of Juvenescence, said: “Aging is an incredibly complex biological event where multiple pathologies compromise our ability to live healthy. For any company to address and modify how we age so that we can live healthier and longer, you need to be very inventive and innovative using combinations of therapies. Dr Piizzi is an extraordinary fit because of her imagination and curiosity backed by rigorous scientific discipline.
Juvenescence is very lucky to have someone with these qualities join us as our CSO. There are a number of areas that are going to be a focus for us going forward, and Dr Piizzi’s background will accelerate and optimize these opportunities [1].”
Dr Piizzi said: “I’m focused on building the portfolio, bringing new skills, assets and technologies into this company. Science is changing how we look at aging and age-related diseases. I will work with a talented team to bring that science to real products and therapies that can transform lives [1].”
[1] https://www.juvlabs.com/news-pr/news-release/juvenescence-appoints-piizzi
