Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Syndexa adds a pair to scientific advisory board

By Mass High Tech Staff

Cambridge drug developer Syndexa Pharmaceuticals Corp. has added John C. Chabala, pharmaceutical research and development consultant, and Edmund J. Sybertz, senior vice president of scientific affairs at Genzyme Corp., to its scientific advisory board in an effort to develop the company’s preclinical program.

Chabala founded Pharmacopeia, where he worked as chief scientific officer. He also served as vice president of discovery chemistry at Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and as executive director of basic chemistry at Merck Sharp & Dohme. For the last 13 years. Chabala has served as a consultant or scientific advisory board member for more than 30 biotechnology companies.

Sybertz currently manages Genzyme’s research and development in neglected diseases. He has also held leadership positions in Genzyme’s drug discovery and development unit and in research and development for GelTex Pharmaceuticals, where he eventually served as general manager.

Syndexa, a developer of drugs to treat metabolic diseases, was founded by scientists from Harvard University and the University of California San Diego. In May, the company announced a $15 million Series B round of capital, led by Hittite Microwave Corp. founder Yalcin Ayasli.