Synageva attracts additional $12m to venture funding round

The funding will be used to help Synageva to develop a portfolio of medicines for patients with rare diseases, who are often overlooked by drug developers due to low patient numbers.

Srini Akkaraju of New Leaf said, “Having followed the company’s progress closely, I am delighted to see how Synageva has established its technology platform as having critical advantages in developing many types of protein therapeutics. With the addition of a team that has substantial experience in rare disease product development, the company is poised to execute on this new corporate vision that will help patients that are often overlooked.”

Synageva has also announced new appointments to its management team, including Dr Anthony Quinn, a research and development specialist with 20 years' experience, who has been named as the company’s senior vice president and chief medical officer, and Eric Grinstead, ex-vice president of government affairs and market access at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, who is joining as senior vice president for government and business affairs.

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