Forma Therapeutics Announces Appointment of Acclaimed Global Sickle Cell Disease Leader Ifeyinwa Osunkwo, MD, MPH, as Senior Vice President, Chief Patient Officer

WATERTOWN, Mass., Nov. 30, 2021–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Forma Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMTX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare hematologic diseases and cancers, today announced the appointment of Ifeyinwa (Ify) Osunkwo, MD, MPH, to its executive leadership team as the inaugural chief patient officer and senior vice president of the company. In this role, Dr. Osunkwo are responsible for realizing Forma’s vision to change patients’ lives by improving access and care through partnerships with global patient and community stakeholders. She will join Forma in the first quarter of 2022.

“This appointment of a chief patient officer boldly represents our commitment to improving both patient access and care, as well as potential innovative treatments. We are honored that Ify has chosen to join Forma at this critical time in growing our organization as a trusted patient-centered company,” said Frank Lee, president and chief executive officer of Forma. “Ify understands first-hand what it is like to care for people with sickle cell disease because she has dedicated her professional life to it. Her role is critical to our mission to transform patients’ lives. We have no doubts about the impact she will have on a global level.”

dr. Osunkwo is an internationally acclaimed expert in the research, treatment and care of sickle cell disease (SCD), the transition from pediatric to adult care, and the management of chronic pain. She is passionate about health equity and has focused her research on identifying the comparative effectiveness of interventions in eliminating health disparities in black and brown populations. She has over 25 years of experience in clinical management, public health using the chronic disease management model and health literacy. She is an experienced clinician educator adept at training clinical and non-clinical audiences and is also a visionary leader in pragmatic program development and implementation using quality improvement.

Story continues

“I’m excited to continue building meaningful partnerships with patients and community stakeholders in my role at Forma,” said Dr. Osunkwo. “Improving the overall patient experience with sickle cell disease has been my career passion; this is an opportunity to really focus on delivering new treatments for patients around the world. My vision is that everyone with sickle cell disease has access to basic care and disease management. My hope is to increase the impact I can have on the community.”

dr. Osunkwo is the founder and director of the Sickle Cell Disease Enterprise at the Levine Cancer Institute and a professor of medicine and pediatrics at Atrium Health – a vertically integrated health care system for 1400+ adults and 400+ children with sickle cell disease in NC/SC/GA. Previously, she was Medical Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease Program at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta @ Egleston and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Emory University. She led the Teen Scene Transition Program that provided care coordination and education to facilitate the smooth transition of young adults from pediatrics to adult care. dr. Osunkwo holds a medical degree from the University of Nigeria College of Medical Sciences and Dentistry and an MPH from Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. She received her pediatric residency training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed her fellowship in pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplantation at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. dr. Board certified in pediatric hematologic oncology, Osunkwo has led a robust research company that has collected more than $15 million in research funding and has served as principal investigator on numerous clinical trials over the course of her career.

About Forma Therapeutics

Forma Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of novel therapies to transform the lives of patients with rare hematologic diseases and cancers. Our R&D engine combines deep biology insight, chemical expertise and clinical development capabilities to create drug candidates with differentiated modes of action targeting indications of high unmet need. Our work has resulted in a broad proprietary portfolio of programs with the potential to deliver profound patient benefits. For more information, visit www.FormaTherapeutics.com or follow us on Twitter @FORMAInc and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. Using words like “may”, “will”, “could”, “should”, “should”, “expect”, “plan”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, ” estimate”, “predict”, “project”, “seek”, “try”, “potential”, “continue”, “target” or the negative of such words or other similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The express or implied forward-looking statements in this press release are forecasts only and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, risks set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in Forma’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, as well as other risks described in our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and conditions discussed in this press release may not materialize and actual results could differ materially or adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely on forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. While Forma believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it makes no representation that the future results, activity levels, performance or events and conditions reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. In addition, neither Forma nor any other person, except as required by law, assumes any responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statement contained in this press release represents the views of Forma only as of the date made. Forma undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Check out the source version at businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/202111130005415/en/

Contacts

Media:
Adam Silverstein, +1 917-697-9313
Porter Novelli
adam.silverstein@porternovelli.com

Investor:
Mario Corso, +1 781-366-5726
Forma Therapeutics
mcorso@formatherapeutics.com