Humacyte names new president and CEO

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Humacyte, a biotech company focused on regenerative medicine, has named Jeffrey Lawson MD, Ph.D, president and CEO. Former CEO Carrie S. Cox assumes the role of executive chair.

The company landed a $75 million equity round in March and a $150 million equity investment from Fresenius Medical Care earlier this month.

Lawson has been involved in the development of Humacyte’s vascular technologies, in collaboration with his career-long research partner and Humacyte founder Dr. Laura Niklason, over the past 20 years. He has worked with Humacyte since its founding in 2004 to support the science, preclinical and clinical testing of Humacyte’s novel tissue engineered blood vessels, which are being developed for dialysis access and cardiovascular surgery.

Jeffrey Lawson. Photo: copyright Humacyte.

Lawson was appointed chief medical officer of Humacyte in 2015 to oversee the clinical development of these vascular technologies as the company initiated Phase III clinical trials for dialysis access and expanded clinical programs in vascular repair and trauma.

Prior to joining Humacyte, Lawson served in leadership roles at Duke University Medical Center, including Professor of Surgery and Pathology, Vice Chair for Research in Surgery, and Director of Clinical Trials for the Department of Surgery.

“Under Carrie’s leadership, the organization has delivered remarkable progress in its first product candidate, catching the attention of research institutions, key opinion leaders, clinical sites, and investors all over the world,” Lawson said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing that work, alon

Carrie Cox. Photo copyright Humacyte.

g with the world-class team at Humacyte.

Cox, as executive chair, will serve as a senior, strategic advisor to Dr. Lawson and the executive team, helping to develop ongoing strategy for Humacyte as the company works toward regulatory approval and commercialization for its flagship product, the investigational Human Acellular Vessel (HAV), HUMACYL.

Cox has led the company through significant business, clinical, regulatory and operational milestones. She has guided the company’s clinical review process, including its ongoing pivotal Phase III clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the bioengineered blood vessel as a conduit for hemodialysis in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Most recently, she led the negotiation of a strategic global commercialization partnership with Fresenius Medical Care, that included a $150 million equity investment that may make HUMACYL available to more patients worldwide following approval of the product.

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