LSIPR 50 2018: Tony Coles
Name: Tony Coles
Organisation: Yumanity Therapeutics
Position: CEO and Chairman
In 2016 Yumanity Therapeutics secured $45 million series A financing from life sciences investors, led by Fidelity Management & Research Company with participation from Redmile Group, Alexandria Venture Investments, Biogen, Sanofi Ventures, and Dolby Family Ventures.
Yumanity was set up in 2014 to commercialise technology developed by microbiologist Susan Lindquist. Lindquist believed her technology could be used to find new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and invited former colleague Tony Coles to join her startup effort.
Under Coles’ leadership, Yumanity seeks to serve the millions of people affected by neurodegenerative diseases which are caused by a process known as protein misfolding. Yumanity’s approach centres on reversing the cellular phenotypes and disease pathologies caused by protein misfolding.
Yumanity’s platforms have identified previously unknown disease targets that, when modulated, can correct the cellular toxicities created by misfolded proteins. Its lead programme corrects toxicity associated with α-synuclein, a protein linked to Parkinson’s disease.
Coles originally trained and practised as a physician. He joined pharmaceutical company Merck in 1992 and went on to work at Onyx Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Amgen in 2013. As chairman and CEO of Onyx, Coles introduced two innovative cancer medicines to patients, and established the organisation’s international presence.
Alongside his work at Yumanity, Coles serves on the board of directors of CRISPR Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical organisation developing transformative gene-based medicines for patients with serious diseases. He is also a member of the board of trustees for John Hopkins University, and a member on the Harvard Medical School Advisory Board.
