Gene Therapy Expert Roger Hajjar, MD, Joins Longeveron® Board

Longeveron Inc., a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine, has announced the election of Dr. Roger Hajjar to its Board of Directors. Dr. Hajjar, a leading figure in the field of cardiac gene therapy, is the Director of the Gene and Cell Therapy Institute at Mass General Brigham. His contributions to cardiac gene therapy have led to clinical trials for heart failure, and his methods for gene transfer are widely used globally. Additionally, he was the first director of the Gene and Cell Therapy Institute.

Dr. Hajjar's appointment was made during Longeveron's recent Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Joshua Hare, Longeveron's Co-founder, Chief Science Officer, and Chairman of the Board, expressed enthusiasm about Dr. Hajjar joining the Board. Hare emphasized that Hajjar's expertise in gene and cell therapy would be invaluable to the company's ongoing development of Lomecel-B™, a versatile cellular therapy under evaluation for various conditions.

Dr. Hajjar shared his excitement about joining Longeveron, especially at a time when gene and cell therapy are making significant strides in medical treatments. He highlighted the potential of Lomecel-B™ in treating conditions like HLHS and Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting that the therapy could revolutionize patient care and improve lives.

This addition to the Board is part of Longeveron's strategy to refresh its Board with experienced and relevant leaders who can contribute to the company's growth and knowledge base.

Dr. Hajjar's career in cardiac gene therapy is distinguished. He played a crucial role in validating cardiac targets and directing First-in-Human gene therapy trials for heart failure. He has led numerous clinical trials focusing on cardiovascular diseases. With over 500 publications to his name, Dr. Hajjar has received many accolades for his pioneering work.

Dr. Hajjar's academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology. He completed extensive training in various medical fields at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, where he also led the Cardiology Laboratory of Integrative Physiology and Imaging. Between 2007 and 2018, he was the Director of the Cardiovascular Research Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. From 2019 to 2022, Dr. Hajjar was involved in creating several gene therapy companies at Flagship Pioneering and led R&D at Ring Therapeutics.

Longeveron Inc. is focused on developing regenerative medicines to meet critical medical needs. Their leading investigational product, Lomecel-B™, is derived from the bone marrow of healthy young adults. This allogeneic medicinal signaling cell (MSC) therapy has multiple mechanisms of action, including promoting vascular growth, regeneration, anti-inflammatory effects, and tissue repair. Longeveron is exploring its application in hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), Alzheimer’s disease, and Aging-related Frailty. The HLHS program for Lomecel-B™ has received significant FDA designations, including Orphan Drug, Fast Track, and Rare Pediatric Disease designations.