WATERTOWN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Syros Pharmaceuticals, the leader in the discovery and development of novel gene control therapies, announced today that Chief Executive Officer Nancy Simonian, M.D., has been appointed to the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) Emerging Companies Section Governing Board.

Dr. Simonian will join with other industry leaders to help shape a policy and legislative agenda for BIO that promotes the needs of emerging companies.

“We are delighted to add to our Board someone with Nancy’s remarkable track record of success in drug development, and believe we will benefit enormously from her perspective and insights,” said Cartier Esham, PhD, BIO's Executive Vice President of Emerging Companies.

"Emerging companies play an ever more important role in creating tomorrow's breakthroughs and it is critical that we promote a policy and business climate to support that," Dr. Simonian said. "I am excited to help BIO shape the environment for medical innovation for the benefit of patients, and for the hundreds of companies like Syros that are tackling the toughest challenges in medicine."

About Syros Pharmaceuticals

Syros Pharmaceuticals is a therapeutics company harnessing breakthroughs in gene control to revolutionize the treatment of cancer and other diseases. Syros’ proprietary platform identifies the master switches for disease genes, opening a whole new approach to novel therapeutics and biomarkers. The Company’s founders are pioneers in gene control research and translation. Co-founded by Flagship Ventures and ARCH Venture Partners, Syros Pharmaceuticals is located in Watertown, Mass. For more information, visit www.syros.com.

About BIO

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) is the world's largest trade association representing more than 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers, and related organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial, and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor and partnering meetings held around the world.

Emerging Companies Section

The BIO Emerging Companies Section serves the needs of BIO's smaller companies that do not yet have products on the market. From advocating for pro-innovation tax policies to encouraging an economic and policy environment to foster biotech investment, BIO focuses on critical issues affecting smaller companies and builds programs to enhance their development.

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Source: Syros Pharmaceuticals