Silence Therapeutics Appoints Jorgen Wittendorff To New Senior Role

(Alliance News) - Silence Therapeutics PLC said Monday that it has appointed Jorgen Wittendorff to the new role of head of manufacturing.

Wittendorff will be joining the company's senior management team and will be responsible for the process development and manufacturing of sIRNA therapeutic products - a type of gene therapy - for clinical trials and commercial use.

Wittendorff has over 25 years of experience in the development of pharmaceutical products, having held senior positions at Ablynx, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Novo Nordisk. Ablynx was later acquired by Sanofi SA.

"Jorgen's extensive experience in complex manufacturing from Ablynx will be a significant contribution to Silence and it is a pleasure to welcome someone of his calibre to the senior management team. In his new role, Jorgen will be able to critically contribute to the manufacturing efforts to progress Silence's three significant sets of assets in gene silencing siRNA: SLN124, for the treatment of iron overload disorders, SL360, for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, and SL500 with partner Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, for the treatment of complement-mediated disorders," said Silence Therapeutics Chief Executive David Horn Solomon.

Wittendorff's start date was not provided by Silence.

Shares were trading 2.9% lower at 189.28 pence each on Monday in London.