Paramus-based Epygenix Therapeutics announced it appointed Dr. Lorianne Masuoka as its chief medical officer. A highly accomplished clinical development executive with a medical background in neurology, Masuoka is a board-certified neurologist and brings over 25 years of experience developing high-value pipelines that have resulted in drug approvals and strategic alliances.
“We are very excited to have Lorianne join the executive leadership team. She brings to us very senior-level and extensive expertise in the clinical development of therapies in rare epilepsies. Her experience will benefit Epygenix tremendously as the ARGUS trial for EPX-100 in Dravet syndrome and the rest of the pipeline progresses,” said Darren Cline, CEO and president at Epygenix.
Prior to joining Epygenix, Masuoka was chief medical officer at Marinus Pharma, where she led the initiation of phase 3 trials of ganaxolone, including in children with CDKL5 deficiency disorder and PCDH19 epilepsy. Before that, she served as chief medical officer at In Vivo Therapeutics, Cubist Pharmaceuticals and Nektar Therapeutics, where she created and managed high-performing clinical development teams and oversaw clinical programs across multiple therapeutic areas.
Previously, Masuoka also held various roles of increasing responsibility at Five Prime Therapeutics, Chiron Corp. and Berlex Laboratories. Aside from her executive roles, Masuoka also serves as a director on the board of Opiant Pharmaceuticals. She has a medical degree and completed her residency in neurology at the University of California, Davis. She completed her epilepsy fellowship at Yale University.
“I am excited to join the vibrant team at Epygenix. We have an important opportunity to bring promising therapies to patients with rare epilepsies for whom there is great unmet need,” Masuoka said. “I look forward to leveraging my clinical and industry expertise to accelerate the development of our pipeline.”
