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I would like to nominate Arthur A. Levin, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at Avidity Biosciences. He has more than three decades of experience in all aspects of drug development from discovery through drug registration, both in large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Art has been instrumental in leading the development and advancement of Avidity’s proprietary Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOC™) platform and has contributed to the significant progress Avidity has made in advancing its drug development programs.
In the last 14 months, Art has helped lead the company in advancing three programs for three distinct rare diseases into clinical development for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) and Duchenne muscular dystrophy mutations amenable to exon 44 skipping (DMD44). Avidity recently demonstrated for the first-time ever the successful targeted delivery of RNA into muscle, representing a revolutionary advancement for the field of RNA therapeutics. Results were based on a preliminary assessment of the Phase 1/2 MARINA™ clinical trial of AOC 1001, Avidity's lead clinical program leveraging its AOC platform, in adults with DM1. The AOC platform combines the specificity of monoclonal antibodies and the precision of oligonucleotide therapeutics, allowing for the delivery of RNA therapy to previously inaccessible tissue and cell types.
Through Art’s research, he has been able to overcome a primary challenge with RNA therapeutics that has eluded scientists for decades – delivery of RNA molecules to cells outside the liver – and given the scientific community the first glimmer of hope in enabling these therapeutics to realize their true potential. Art is leading his team in expanding the reach of AOCs to target other tissue types in addition to muscle including cardiac tissue and immune cells to treat other diseases where patients have no approved therapies and there is a significant unmet need.
Art is a pioneer in the field of RNA, antisense, and oligonucleotide therapeutics and he has played key roles in the development of numerous oligonucleotide therapies, including the first approved antisense drugs and the first microRNA-targeted therapeutic to enter clinical trials. As an advisor to executives in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and venture capital communities, he has been able to assist in the growth and development of companies such as Ionis, Alnylam, Stoke, ProQR, Atalanta, Cardior, and others. As a result, he has contributed to the growth of oligonucleotide therapeutics companies and the development of drugs for important diseases, thus extending the reach and therapeutic importance of the technology.
Art has served as a director of the Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society and holds several additional scientific organization affiliations and honors. He received a doctorate in toxicology from the University of Rochester and a bachelor's degree in biology from Muhlenberg College. Art has more than 60 scientific articles and several of the most cited reviews in the field. His dedication to bring much needed therapies where there is an unmet need has helped usher in a new era for RNA therapeutics where we can potentially treat a broader range of diseases and has ultimately inspired a new generation of scientists in the field.
Art’s lasting impact is not only due to his contributions to the RNA field and impressive resume but also the time and dedication he puts into training the next generation of scientists and innovators. His commitment, persistence and expertise in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors is a huge inspiration for the team at Avidity and other researchers and drug developers and will continue to inspire in the years ahead.
Nomination Title: Arthur A. Levin, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer
