Ensoma, a genomic medicines company advancing the future of medicine through precision one-time, in vivo treatments that precisely engineer any cell of the hematopoietic system, today announced the appointment of Jim Burns, Ph.D., as chief executive officer and a member of the company’s board of directors.

“Jim Burns is an accomplished biotechnology executive who joins Ensoma at a critical and exciting time for the company as we advance our first program through IND-enabling studies,” said Paula Soteropoulos, chairman of the board and interim CEO of Ensoma. “Jim’s track record of leadership and groundbreaking work in product development, notably as CEO of Locanabio, where he spearheaded the development of RNA-targeted gene therapies, and Casebia Therapeutics, a pioneer in CRISPR/Cas9-based therapeutics, aligns with Ensoma's mission to advance precision genomic medicines through innovative technologies.”

“I am excited to join Ensoma’s highly talented team that is quickly advancing the next wave of genetic medicines in which hematopoietic stem cells are genetically engineered in vivo to treat disease with a single off-the-shelf therapeutic administration,” said Dr. Burns. “This approach holds tremendous promise for patients in need. I am committed to accelerating our first program toward the clinic, while further expanding our efforts to address a range of devastating genetic, immunological and oncological conditions, bringing the possibility of life-changing treatments to individuals and families worldwide.”

Prior to joining Ensoma, Dr. Burns was CEO of Locanabio, a company focused on developing genetic medicines for neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases. Before that, he was CEO of Casebia Therapeutics, which is now part of CRISPR Therapeutics. Dr. Burns spent the bulk of his career at Genzyme and Sanofi, where he held several leadership roles with increasing responsibility, including North America site head for R&D, where he coordinated R&D operations across key therapeutic areas. Dr. Burns is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and a past board member of MassBio and the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine.

Dr. Burns earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Purdue University and Master of Science and doctorate degrees in bioengineering from the University of Illinois-Chicago, where his thesis work focused on drug delivery. Following his graduate studies, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Florida.

About Ensoma

Ensoma is developing curative medicines through precision in vivo cellular engineering. Our Engenious™ platform combines class-leading proprietary base editing and high-efficiency gene integration systems with high-capacity virus-like particles to provide one-time and durable genetic medicines in a simple outpatient procedure. We are focused on in vivo engineering of hematopoietic stem cells to address genetic diseases, immune disorders and oncology. Ensoma is supported by top-tier investors and a passionate team committed to a bold, global vision for gene therapy. Ensoma is based in Boston. For more information, visit ensoma.com.

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