Edgardo Baracchini

Edgardo (Ed) Baracchini, has been one of the Company’s directors since July 2019. He is also current a member of the board of directors of 4D Pharma PLC. Prior to providing biotech consulting services since September 2018, Ed was chief business officer of Xencor, Inc., biopharmaceutical company focused on autominnue diseases, asthma and cancer, from 2010 to 2018. From 2002 to 2009, Ed was associated with Metabasis Therapeutics, initially as vice president of business development, and later as SVP of business development. Ed holds over 25 years of experience in structuring and negotiating research and development partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and licensing agreements. He has personally, negotiated more than 80 business transactions with multinational and Asian pharmaceutical firms, biotechnology companies, and prominent universities, leading to transactions valued in excess of $5.3 billion. Significant experience in alliance management, strategic planning, and IR/PR. Additionally, have been a key member of executive teams that have raised over $850 million in private and public financing, and that have successfully completed two IPOs. Ed received his MBA from the University of California, Irvine, his PhD in molecular and cell biology from the University of Texas at Dallas, and his B.S. in microbiology from the University of Notre Dame.