Capsida Biotherapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company developing targeted gene therapies using its next-generation adeno-associated virus (AAV) engineering platform, has appointed Swati Tole, M.D., as chief medical officer. Dr. Tole brings extensive drug development experience including senior-level leadership positions in the biotech industry across a wide spectrum of disease areas in adults and children including rheumatology, gastroenterology, hepatology, and infectious diseases. 

"It is with great pleasure that we welcome Swati to our team," said Robert Cuddihy, M.D., chief executive officer of Capsida. "She has an impressive and highly relevant track record in biologics and small molecule drug development which complements the existing team. Her deep clinical, scientific, and strategic expertise will be instrumental as we execute on our strategy of using our high-throughput AAV engineering platform to create a pipeline of groundbreaking gene therapies across a range of therapeutic areas for indications that are unreachable with current technologies, with initial focus on the central nervous system."

Dr. Tole joins the company from Genentech, where she spent 13 years in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as vice president of clinical development. In this position, Dr. Tole oversaw and advised teams working on several molecules across the gastroenterology and hepatology spaces.

Capsida also named Rita Balice-Gordon, Ph.D., a noted neuroscience researcher and industry leader to its board of directors.

"We are excited to welcome Rita to our Board at this important time for Capsida. She is a recognized leader in neuroscience with a successful track record of discovering and developing innovative therapeutic programs through late-stage to treat pain, neurologic, psychiatric, and rare diseases. Rita's expertise will be critical as we advance our clinical program," added Dr. Cuddihy.

Dr. Balice-Gordon, Ph.D., has served as the chief scientific officer of Muna Therapeutics, a newly formed biotech company focused on developing novel therapeutics for patients with neurodegenerative diseases, since May 2020, and is an entrepreneur-in-residence at Novo Seeds since August 2020.