Athersys (ATHX) Appoints Neema Mayhugh to its Board

Athersys, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATHX), a regenerative medicine company developing MultiStem® (invimestrocel) for critical care indications, announced today the appointment of Neema Mayhugh, PhD to its Board of Directors. Dr. Mayhugh is an executive with more than 20 years of experience in healthcare consulting, industry, academic and hospital settings.

Dr. Mayhugh currently serves as the Founder and Managing Partner of Wave Strategy, a consultancy focused on the rapid commercialization of healthcare innovations. Under her leadership, Wave Strategy has bridged early-stage technologies from renowned medical institutions with investors and industry experts, propelling them into the market. Notable partnerships include collaborations with Mass General Brigham, The Cleveland Clinic and BioEnterprise Corporation, among others.

Prior to Wave Strategy, Dr. Mayhugh served as Chief Operating Officer at Mobile Hyperbaric Centers, where she instituted transformative changes that increased patient volumes and compliance rates while enhancing organizational efficiency. Earlier in her career, she held leadership positions at The Cleveland Clinic and Pfizer, with a focus on commercialization and market analytics.

“Dr. Mayhugh's appointment to our Board signifies a strategic step toward enriching our governance with dynamic visionaries. Her vast experience and achievements in healthcare innovation will provide valuable insight as we pursue our growth objectives including advancing our product pipeline in multiple indications, forging impactful partnerships and licensing our IP portfolio,” said Ismael Kola, PhD, Chairman of the Athersys Board of Directors.

“We welcome Dr. Mayhugh’s expertise in commercialization strategies, portfolio prioritization and deal execution to Athersys. With multiple late-stage programs, including our most advanced Phase 3 MASTERS-2 trial evaluating MultiStem in treating ischemic stroke, her background and current work at Wave Strategy play a strategic role in adding to the capabilities of our Board as we progress towards completing our pivotal study,” added Dan Camardo, Chief Executive Officer of Athersys.

“I am honored to join the Board of Directors at Athersys. A hallmark of my career has been fostering innovation and driving the commercialization of groundbreaking healthcare technologies. The potential of Athersys' MultiStem technology not only resonates with my passion for creating revolutionary solutions in medicine, but also offers a promising avenue for addressing a number of challenging unmet medical needs,” said Dr. Mayhugh.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Mayhugh is devoted to community service and is actively involved in the Fostering Hope Program and the Lawrence School. She is also on the Foundation Fighting Blindness Innovation Council and is a reviewer for IBD Ventures, the venture arm of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. She previously served on the United Way Women's Leadership Council, as a Director of Open Doors Academy and as a Subcommittee Member of Prevent Blindness Vision Research.

She holds a PhD in Pharmacology & Toxicology from Dartmouth College and a BSc in Human Physiology from Boston University.

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