LONDON: Syncona Ltd, a leading healthcare company, announces the appointment of Dr Kemal Malik as a Non-Executive Director with immediate effect.

Kemal has 30 years of experience in global pharmaceutical research and development and has been responsible for bringing many innovative medicines to commercialisation.

Kemal has spent much of his recent career at Bayer where, for the last six years, he served on the Board of Management leading innovation across the group. He was also responsible for Bayer LEAPS during this time, an organisational unit for strategic venturing in areas of disruptive innovation (cell and gene therapy).

For the ten years prior to this, Kemal was Head of Global Development and Chief Medical Officer at Bayer Healthcare. His early career began with roles in medical affairs, clinical development and new product commercialisation at Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Kemal qualified in medicine at Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School (Imperial College) and is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians. He is also a Non-Executive Director at Acceleron Pharma, Inc., a Boston based biopharmaceutical company, where he sits on the Nomination and Governance and Compensation committees.

Melanie Gee, Chair of Syncona Limited, said: “Kemal brings a wealth of experience in life science innovation and drug development to our Board. Developing commercially-viable medicines that will reach patients is a core pillar of our strategy and his expertise will be highly important as we steer the Company towards future growth and success.”

Kemal Malik said: “I look forward to joining Syncona’s impressive Board and working with the world-class individuals in its successful investment team. I am particularly excited to apply my experience in commercialising medicines to support the development of the potentially life-changing therapies within the Syncona portfolio.”