Gyroscope Therapeutics appoints CEO

Ophthalmology group Gyroscope Therapeutics has appointed Dr Soraya Bekkali as its chief executive officer and director of its board.

She has over 20 years’ industry experience and moves to the London-based biotech firm from Lysogene where she served as the French biotechnology company's senior vice president and chief medical officer.

She said: “I am excited to be joining Gyroscope at the company’s founding stage to advance new genetically-defined therapies for the treatment of debilitating eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration.

“Gyroscope has a unique translational approach to tackling complex diseases such as dry AMD for which there are no therapies today.”

Dr Bekkali’s previous leadership positions include global head of the ophthalmology business unit at Sanofi, where she led its ophthalmology strategy towards ocular gene therapy and set up a multidisciplinary team.

Chris Hollowood, chairman of the board and chief investment office at Syncona, said: “We are extremely pleased to appoint Soraya and look forward to her leadership and extensive gene therapy and ophthalmology clinical experience driving the company forward.”