News & Events

Renovacor, Inc. (“Renovacor”), an early‑stage biotechnology company developing adeno-associated virus (AAV)‑based gene therapies for devastating cardiovascular and central nervous system (“CNS”) diseases resulting from BAG3 gene variants, today announced the appointment of Marc Semigran, M.D., as chief medical officer of Renovacor. Dr. Semigran brings considerable clinical development and translational medicine experience to Renovacor, having previously served as chief medical officer and senior vice president of medical science at MyoKardia through its acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb (“BMS”) in 2020 for $13.1 billion. He will be responsible for the management and global development of Renovacor’s pipeline.

“Marc is an ideal fit for our management team, as his extensive clinical and regulatory expertise in the cardiovascular space is highly relevant to Renovacor’s vision of delivering transformative therapies for devastating cardiovascular diseases,” said Magdalene Cook, M.D., chief executive officer of Renovacor. “We have made considerable progress in advancing our lead candidate, REN-001, through research, preclinical, and now IND-enabling studies. As we advance toward an anticipated IND application for REN-001 in mid-2022, Marc’s cardiovascular drug development expertise will be an invaluable asset. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team and are eager to begin working together as we prepare to move the company into the next phase as a clinical-stage company.”

Renovacor, Inc. (“Renovacor” or the “Company”), an early‑stage biotechnology company developing AAV‑based gene therapies for devastating cardiovascular and central nervous system (CNS) diseases resulting from BAG3 gene dysfunction, and Chardan Healthcare Acquisition 2 Corp. (NYSE: CHAQ) (“CHAQ”), a special purpose acquisition company or SPAC, sponsored by affiliates of Chardan Capital Markets (“Chardan”), announced today they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement. Upon closing of the transaction, CHAQ will be renamed Renovacor, Inc. and its common stock is expected to be listed on NYSE under the ticker symbol “RCOR” (the “Combined Company”).

The Combined Company is expected to receive gross proceeds of up to $116 million, funded by approximately $86 million held in CHAQ’s trust account (assuming no redemptions are effected) and a common stock PIPE of $30 million at $10.00 per share. A group of premier investors has committed to participate in the transaction through a common stock PIPE and sponsor support agreements, including Chardan Healthcare Investments (an affiliate of Chardan), RTW Investments LP, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company), Affinity Asset Advisors, Altium Capital, Ikarian Capital, Sio Capital Management, South Ocean Capital Management, and certain existing Renovacor stockholders including Acorn Bioventures, Longview Ventures (an affiliate of Broadview Ventures) and Innogest Capital.

Renovacor, Inc, a preclinical‑stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing transformative gene therapy‑based treatments for cardiovascular disease, today announced the addition of Dr. Anne Prener to both the company’s board of directors and scientific advisory board.

Dr. Prener has a proven track record of building and leading high‑performing global teams for both preclinical and clinical stage biotech companies. Her 25+ years of experience across several therapeutic areas has focused on rare diseases and gene therapy. Most recently, Dr. Prener served as CEO of Freeline Therapeutics, Ltd., where she scaled the company from the preclinical stage to a fully‑integrated biotechnology organization, which included a broad, internally developed pipeline, two programs in clinical development and a commercial‑scale, high‑quality CMC and manufacturing platform. Prior to that, Dr. Prener was CEO for Gyroscope, a gene therapy company focused on addressing important retinal diseases with novel approaches. She helped build the company from start, including hiring the clinical, regulatory and scientific teams, developed medical and commercial strategy and served as a leading board director of the company. Overall, Dr. Prener has been instrumental in bringing six biologics through development, approval and launch preparations, of which one new treatment for hemophilia took only 4.5 years from first human dose to approval.

Renovacor, Inc, a preclinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing transformative gene therapy‑based treatments for cardiovascular disease, today announced the successful completion of an $11 million Series A financing co‑led by Novartis Venture Fund, Broadview Ventures, and BioAdvance, and joined by New Leaf Venture Partners and Innogest Capital.

Renovacor’s lead program is a recombinant adeno‑associated virus (AAV)‑based gene therapy for patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) due to mutations in the BAG3 gene. The foundational understanding of BAG3 mutations and the Company’s gene therapy product are based on 10 years of research performed by Dr. Arthur Feldman, MD, PhD, the Laura H. Carnell Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Temple University. Proceeds from the Series A financing will be used to advance the Company’s first-of-its-kind gene replacement therapy through filing of an IND in preparation to initiate human clinical trials in DCM patients who have mutations in their BAG3 gene.