KalVista Pharmaceuticals has announced the appointment of Edward P. Feener, Ph.D. as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of the Company. Dr. Feener is a scientific co-founder of KalVista and a recognized authority on plasma kallikrein. His laboratory at the Joslin Diabetes Center has made groundbreaking discoveries on the role of plasma kallikrein in vascular disorders and was the first to identify plasma kallikrein as a potential therapeutic target for diabetic macular edema.
Dr. Feener has more than 27 years of research experience in vascular biology and diabetic complications, contributing to more than 80 scientific publications during his career. Prior to taking his new role at KalVista, he was an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Senior Investigator in the Section on Vascular Cell Biology at the Joslin Diabetes Center, a research and clinical affiliate of Harvard Medical School. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Boston University and completed postdoctoral training at the Joslin Center and Harvard Medical School. Dr. Feener has been working closely with the KalVista team on the therapeutic opportunities for plasma kallikrein inhibitors, and as CSO will lead the new target discovery and preclinical pharmacology programs at KalVista’s laboratories in Cambridge, MA. His focus in this role will be to evaluate new therapeutic opportunities for plasma kallikrein inhibitors and perform preclinical studies to support the development of additional protease inhibitors in KalVista’s drug pipeline.
“I am delighted that Dr. Feener has joined KalVista in this new position,” said Andrew Crockett, Chief Executive Officer of KalVista. “I am confident that his exceptional understanding of vascular biology and the role of plasma kallikrein in vascular diseases will prove invaluable as we seek to build our pipeline of novel medicines and advance them into and through clinical development.”
Dr. Feener added: “The basic research conducted in my lab at the Joslin, and by other leading laboratories, has identified plasma kallikrein as an exciting new potential therapeutic target for certain vascular diseases. Clinical translation of these findings could lead to novel treatments for life- and vision-threatening edema and other vascular disorders that are caused by the over activity of plasma kallikrein. KalVista has made significant progress in identifying and developing highly selective and potent small molecules that block plasma kallikrein action and could have multiple therapeutic applications. While my research opportunities at Joslin have been extraordinary, I am very much looking forward to my new position in KalVista at this exciting point in its development and having a more direct role in bringing new therapies to patients.”
In connection with his employment, Dr. Feener is receiving an inducement grant of 20,055 options to purchase shares of KalVista common stock. The shares subject to the option will vest 1/48 per month. This disclosure is made pursuant to NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).