BEDFORD, Mass. — Stoke Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: STOK) has appointed Clare Kahn, Ph.D., to its board of directors as the biotechnology company advances development of its lead investigational therapy for Dravet syndrome.
The company is focused on restoring protein expression through RNA-based medicines and is currently developing zorevunersen as a potential first-in-class, disease-modifying treatment for the rare genetic epilepsy disorder.
“Clare brings more than three decades of industry experience, and we are very pleased to welcome her to the Board at this pivotal time for Stoke,” said Ian F. Smith, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Stoke Therapeutics. “Clare’s deep regulatory strategy and drug development expertise, particularly in rare genetic diseases, complements the strong capabilities of our leadership team and Board. Her insights will have an immediate impact as we advance our Phase 3 study of zorevunersen and work to deliver the first potential disease-modifying medicine to people with Dravet syndrome.”
Kahn has held senior leadership roles across medicine development, regulatory strategy, and lifecycle management. Most recently, she served as R&D Strategy Officer and Chief Regulatory and Preclinical Development Officer at X-VAX Technology Inc. She previously held positions of increasing responsibility at Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline. She currently serves on the board of Solid Biosciences and has advised both early-stage and established biotechnology companies. Kahn holds a Ph.D. in Biochemical Pharmacology from The Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London.
“Stoke has an opportunity to fundamentally change the course of Dravet syndrome with an investigational medicine that targets the underlying cause of this devastating disease,” said Kahn. “I am thrilled to support the team as they progress this promising potential treatment that could make a profound difference in the lives of patients and their families.”
Dravet syndrome is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy marked by frequent seizures and significant cognitive and behavioral impairments. Most cases are caused by mutations in one copy of the SCN1A gene, resulting in insufficient levels of NaV1.1 protein in brain cells. Even with current anti-seizure medications, up to 57 percent of patients do not achieve at least a 50 percent reduction in seizure frequency.
The condition is also associated with developmental delays, intellectual disability, movement and balance issues, speech and language difficulties, and sleep and mood disorders. People with Dravet syndrome face an elevated risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy, with up to 20 percent of affected children and adolescents dying before adulthood.
Zorevunersen is an investigational antisense oligonucleotide designed to increase production of functional NaV1.1 protein from the unaffected copy of the SCN1A gene. The therapy aims to reduce seizure frequency and improve neurodevelopmental outcomes beyond what is possible with existing treatments.
The drug candidate has received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, as well as rare pediatric disease and Breakthrough Therapy designations from the FDA for certain patients with Dravet syndrome. Stoke Therapeutics is developing zorevunersen in collaboration with Biogen, retaining commercialization rights in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while Biogen holds rights in other global markets.
