Beacon Therapeutics Holdings Limited, an ophthalmic gene therapy company, has appointed Lance Baldo, MD as Chief Executive Officer, effective August 12, 2024, and Thomas Biancardi as Chief Financial Officer, effective August 1, 2024.

Lance Baldo, CEO

Dr. Baldo brings more than 20 years of experience in biopharmaceuticals including the successful launch of two new indications and a new formulation for Lucentis while at Genentech.

Most recently, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Freenome, an early cancer detection company, where he led the design and execution of the Company’s medical strategy to support its pipeline, from clinical trials through registration and commercialization. Prior to Freenome, Baldo was the Chief Medical Officer at Adaptive Biotechnologies, serving as a member of the senior leadership team through the transition from a private to publicly traded company.

He has also held numerous roles within the Roche Group and its affiliates, including Senior Vice President and Head of U.S. Medical Affairs of Genentech and Franchise Head for Ophthalmology.

Baldo succeeds David Fellows, who has served as CEO since Syncona Limited’s acquisition of AGTC in November 2022. Fellows will assist during the transition and assume the role of non-Executive Chairman of the Board in January 2025.

“I am honored and incredibly excited to join Beacon at this important juncture for the Company. Dave and the team have guided Beacon to the forefront of ophthalmic gene therapy with a robust clinical pipeline of candidates poised to meaningfully improve the treatment paradigms for patients with both rare and prevalent blinding diseases,” said Baldo. “With AGTC-501 in a registrational study, world class science and incredible financial backing, we are poised to make a run at a devastating inherited retinal disease.”

Thomas Biancardi, CFO

Biancardi assumes the role of chief financial officer from interim CFO Andrew Prosser, effective August 1, 2024. Biancardi is a biopharmaceutical industry veteran with over 25 years of financial and operational leadership experience, predominantly within ophthalmology.

During his career, he has assisted numerous companies in raising capital, and establishing clinical and commercial operations. As one of the first employees of Ophthotech Corporation, he helped the Company evolve from a pre-clinical venture-backed startup to a publicly traded biotech company. He also played a crucial role in the successful launch of the first pharmacologic treatment for macular degeneration at Eyetech Pharmaceuticals.

“I am excited to serve as Beacon’s CFO and collaborate with Lance, the Board and Beacon’s experienced team to support the Company’s mission to fight blinding diseases,” shared Biancardi. “Beacon has a strong operational foundation and the partnership of a global investor syndicate; I am looking forward to supporting the Company’s growth and development through market entry.”