-- Medical genetics pioneer from UCSF to join executive team to lead
medical organization --
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Invitae Corporation (NYSE:NVTA), a genetic information company, today
announced the appointment of Robert L. Nussbaum, M.D. as Chief Medical
Officer; such appointment will become effective August 1, 2015. As a
board-certified internist and medical geneticist, Dr. Nussbaum has
dedicated his career to improving the care of adults and children with
hereditary disorders.
Dr. Nussbaum was most recently chief of the Division of Genomic Medicine
at UCSF Health and has played leadership roles in the Cancer Genetics
and Prevention Program and in the Program in Cardiovascular Genetics. As
a member of the UCSF Institute for Human Genetics for the past nine
years, Dr. Nussbaum will bring to Invitae extensive expertise in using
genetic information to better healthcare by improving outcomes, lowering
costs, and promoting education.
Dr. Nussbaum, a member of the Institute of Medicine and a fellow at the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences, was co-discoverer of the first
inherited form of Parkinson's disease. He has since worked to identify
the genetic contributions to the disease as well as carrying out basic
research into its pathogenesis. Prior to joining UCSF, Dr. Nussbaum was
chief of the Genetic Disease Research Branch of the National Human
Genome Research Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health.
“For decades, we have been advancing our understanding of the human
genome. We are now at that exciting point of time that many of us have
worked towards all these years, when the field is starting to have a
real impact both on medical care and on the health of individuals and
the public,” said Dr. Nussbaum. “I am joining Invitae because I believe
its commitment to science and quality patient care will help make
genetic information more affordable and accessible in a way that
benefits patients, clinicians, and the healthcare system. I am
particularly excited about Invitae’s commitment to empowering patients
to participate in the genomics revolution by sharing their data in order
to advance the quality of genetic testing and, more generally, improve
medical care and disease prevention.”
Dr. Nussbaum will serve as part of Invitae’s executive team and lead its
medical organization, overseeing medical genetics, clinical genetics,
genetic counseling, clinical development, and medical affairs. Dr.
Nussbaum plans to continue his clinical activities at UCSF as a
volunteer physician after joining the Invitae team.
“Bob is one of the pioneers in the field of genetics. We’re humbled that
he has agreed to join us and expect that he will play a leading role in
helping us achieve our mission,” said Randy Scott, chief executive
officer of Invitae. “We believe that the best way to bring genetics to
billions of patients around the world is to work with the medical
community and payors to improve care and reduce the cost of healthcare.
Bob’s leadership will be invaluable as we pursue our mission.”
Dr. Nussbaum graduated from Harvard Medical School in the Harvard-MIT
joint program, and completed his residency in internal medicine at
Barnes-Jewish Hospital and a fellowship in medical genetics at the
Baylor College of Medicine.
About Invitae
Invitae’s (NYSE: NVTA) mission is to bring comprehensive genetic
information into mainstream medical practice to improve the quality of
healthcare for billions of people. Currently focused on hereditary
cancers, Invitae’s goal is to aggregate most of the world’s genetic
tests into a single service with higher quality, faster turnaround time
and lower price than many single-gene tests today. The company currently
provides a single diagnostic service comprising over 200 genes for a
variety of genetic disorders associated primarily with cancer, but also
covering cardiology, hematology, neurology and pediatrics.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including statements relating to the company's beliefs regarding Dr.
Nussbaum’s expected contributions to the company and his expected start
date. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially, and reported
results should not be considered as an indication of future performance.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: Dr.
Nussbaum commencing employment with the company and the timing thereof;
the company’s ability to develop and commercialize new tests and expand
into new markets; the risk that the company may not obtain or maintain
sufficient levels of reimbursement for its tests; risks associated with
the company’s ability to use rapidly changing genetic data to interpret
test results accurately and consistently; laws and regulations
applicable to the company’s business, including potential regulation by
the FDA; and the other risks set forth in the company's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks set forth in the
company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
2014. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof,
and Invitae Corporation disclaims any obligation to update these
forward-looking statements.
Source: Invitae Corporation