Gamida Cell Announces New Leadership Under Highbridge Capital Management

Gamida Cell Ltd., a leading cell therapy company, has announced a significant restructuring and infusion of capital following a successful transaction with Highbridge Capital Management. This development, which took place on May 24, 2024, marks a new chapter for the company as it aims to enhance its cancer treatment offerings. Highbridge has injected $30 million into Gamida Cell, with promises of additional funding to support ongoing operations, including research, development, and commercialization of cell therapeutics. Following this transaction, Gamida Cell now functions as a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayrmid Limited, a UK-based entity.

To spearhead the commercialization of Omisirge® (omidubicel-onlv), a novel cell therapy for allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, Gamida Cell has introduced a new executive team. Dr. Joe Wiley assumes the role of Chief Executive Officer, Rory Nealon steps in as Chief Financial Officer, and Sheila Frame has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer. These leaders collectively bring over 80 years of expertise in the pharmaceutical industry, making them well-suited to drive the company’s future growth.

Dr. Joe Wiley, the newly appointed CEO, has a notable background in the pharmaceutical sector. He founded Amryt Pharma and led the company until its acquisition by Chiesi Farmaceutici in April 2023. Wiley’s career also includes significant roles at Sofinnova Ventures and Astellas Pharma, as well as investment management positions following his initial work as a neurologist.

Rory Nealon, the new CFO, co-founded Amryt Pharma and served as its Chief Financial and Operating Officer until its acquisition. Prior to his tenure at Amryt, Nealon held executive roles at Trinity Biotech, first as Chief Financial Officer and later as Chief Operations Officer.

Sheila Frame, the new Chief Commercial Officer, previously served as President Americas of Amryt Pharma until its acquisition by Chiesi Farmaceutici. Frame has extensive experience in leading the commercialization and growth of pharmaceutical products, particularly in the fields of oncology, immunology, and rare diseases, both in the US and globally.

Dr. Wiley expressed his enthusiasm for the new phase of Gamida Cell, highlighting the company’s advancements in cell therapies for cancer and the potential of its treatments to improve outcomes for patients who struggle to find suitable donors. He emphasized the importance of Highbridge's support in expanding access to Omisirge across hospitals in the U.S.

Jonathan Segal, Co-Chief Investment Officer at Highbridge, reiterated the firm’s commitment to supporting Gamida Cell’s mission. He acknowledged the contributions of the previous management team in advancing Omisirge and looked forward to collaborating with the new leadership to drive the company's future success.

Gamida Cell is renowned for its pioneering work in cell therapy, utilizing its proprietary nicotinamide (NAM) technology to enhance and expand cells. This technology has led to the development of potentially curative allogeneic cell therapy products, including the FDA-approved Omisirge and the investigational NK (natural killer) cell therapy candidate, GDA-201, for hematologic malignancies.

This strategic move positions Gamida Cell to not only continue its innovative work in cell therapy but also to potentially broaden the availability of its treatments, ultimately benefiting a larger patient population in need of advanced therapeutic options.

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