Genflow appoints Gad Berdugo as Independent Non-Executive Chairman to accelerate expansion and R&D momentum

Genflow Biosciences Plc (listed on the LSE under GENF and on OTCQB under GENFF) has announced a major boardroom change designed to support its next stage of development in gene therapies targeting age-related diseases. The company confirmed that Gad Berdugo (MSc Eng., MBA) has joined its Board with immediate effect and will take on the role of Independent Non-Executive Chairman.

Genflow said the appointment is intended to strengthen leadership and governance as it advances its scientific programs, plans key milestones, and broadens its commercial and capital markets footprint—especially in the United States. The company also confirmed that Tamara Joseph will remain on the Board as a Director to provide continuity and maintain strong governance standards during the transition.

Why this leadership change matters for Genflow right now

Leadership changes at biotechnology companies often happen at turning points—when a business is moving from early research into more defined development pathways, or when upcoming data and strategic decisions require deeper expertise in partnerships, financing, and execution. Genflow’s announcement frames this as a step forward into a “next phase,” supported by a chairman with decades of experience in biotechnology growth, deal-making, and capital markets.

In practical terms, a new independent chairman can help a company in several ways:

• Sharper strategic focus: keeping the organization aligned on the most valuable programs and timelines.
• Stronger external relationships: improving access to partners, investors, and industry networks.
• Better governance: ensuring board-level oversight remains robust as the company expands.
• Capital markets readiness: helping shape messaging, milestones, and credibility with shareholders and institutions.

Genflow is positioning this appointment as a boost to both its corporate growth plans and its R&D expansion, reflecting the dual challenge many biotech firms face: advancing science while maintaining enough financial and operational strength to reach the next milestone.

Who is Gad Berdugo? A closer look at his background

Genflow highlighted that Gad Berdugo brings 30+ years of leadership experience across global business development, corporate growth, U.S. capital markets, and company-building in the life sciences sector. The company emphasized his track record in:

• Strategic partnerships (helping companies find the right collaborators and platforms)
• Financing and capital raising (supporting fundraising strategies for development-stage biotechs)
• Scaling biotech organizations (building teams and processes that can support growth)

At the time of the announcement, Berdugo serves as Managing Partner of Explorium Capital LLC, a U.S.-based strategic and financial advisory firm focused on the global biotechnology sector. Genflow presented this as particularly relevant because a U.S. presence and U.S. investor familiarity can be important for companies operating across multiple markets and seeking broader international engagement.

Previous senior roles cited by the company

Genflow referenced several roles from Berdugo’s career to illustrate breadth across biotech development and business operations, including:

• Co-Founder & CEO of EpiVax Oncology
• Vice-Chairman of the Board at Evexta Bio
• Chief Business Officer roles at Editas Medicine and Nutcracker Therapeutics

The company also noted early-career experience at major healthcare organizations (including Abbott and Baxter) and later leadership roles in life sciences investing and asset management. Together, Genflow is signaling that the new chairman has both “big company” and “growth-stage biotech” experience—two worlds that often require different instincts and operating rhythms.

Technical relevance: RNA therapeutics and LNP delivery experience

One of the most notable parts of Genflow’s announcement is its emphasis on Berdugo’s technical and market knowledge of RNA-based therapeutics, including lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery, as well as development and manufacturing considerations.

Why does that matter? In modern biotech, delivery technologies can be as critical as the therapeutic payload itself. LNP delivery systems became widely recognized through their role in enabling certain RNA-based medicines, and many biotech teams now evaluate delivery not as a “nice-to-have,” but as a central part of whether a program can become a real product.

Genflow suggested this background could support the company as it:

• continues to refine and strengthen its scientific platform,
• evaluates delivery options and emerging technologies, and
• explores next-generation therapeutic approaches that align with its pipeline goals.

This doesn’t mean Genflow is changing its scientific identity overnight. Instead, it suggests the company wants leadership that can help it think strategically about the full product pathway—science, delivery, development, and market positioning—well before the late stages.

What happens to Tamara Joseph?

Genflow confirmed that Tamara Joseph will remain on the Board as a Director. The company framed this as a stability move—ensuring continuity in governance, corporate oversight, and institutional knowledge while bringing in new leadership at the chairman level.

For investors and stakeholders, continuity can reduce uncertainty. Board transitions can sometimes raise questions about direction or internal alignment. By keeping Joseph involved, Genflow is communicating that this is an additive change rather than a disruptive reshuffle.

CEO commentary: what Genflow says it wants next

In its announcement, Genflow’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Eric Leire, welcomed the appointment and described Berdugo’s experience as valuable for accelerating programs and expanding global reach. The CEO also stressed that Joseph’s continued board service remains important for governance continuity.

Put simply, Genflow is making two messages clear at the same time:

1. We want stronger growth capacity (strategy, partnerships, capital markets).
2. We want stable governance (continuity and oversight remain intact).

That combination is often the “sweet spot” biotech companies aim for: fresh capability without shaking confidence.

Berdugo’s statement: a “new phase” with key 2026 milestones

Genflow said Berdugo described the timing as attractive because the company is progressing into a new stage, with key data readouts expected in 2026, strengthened intellectual property, and a more focused strategy around high-potential programs.

These themes are common in biotech inflection points. Investors typically look for:

• Clear catalysts (specific milestones and readouts with dates or windows)
• Defensible IP (patent strength and freedom to operate)
• Prioritization (focusing money and time on programs that can drive value)

Berdugo’s remarks, as summarized by the company, align closely with those expectations—suggesting he intends to help steer Genflow through the operational demands of delivering meaningful data and maintaining momentum.

Genflow’s mission: gene therapies for age-related diseases

Genflow describes itself as a European-based biotechnology company focused on developing gene therapies intended to address age-related diseases. The company’s stated ambition is to help slow biological aging processes and support longer, healthier lives.

That’s a bold goal, and it sits within a rapidly growing area of biomedical science sometimes referred to as “longevity biotech.” However, it is important to understand the difference between broad longevity ideas and what a biotech company can actually develop and test. Genflow’s approach is framed around specific programs and studies, rather than vague promises. That matters, because credibility in biotech usually comes from:

• measurable endpoints,
• repeatable scientific methods, and
• transparent development timelines.

Genflow operates from London, with R&D facilities in Belgium, giving it a footprint across key European biotech regions while also seeking broader engagement with U.S. markets and stakeholders.

Pipeline snapshot: what Genflow is working on

While leadership changes often take the headline, the deeper question for many readers is: what programs is Genflow pushing forward? Based on reporting around the announcement, Genflow is associated with development work including:

1) A proof-of-concept clinical study in aged dogs (SIRT6-related gene therapy)

Genflow has been linked to a 12-month proof-of-concept study evaluating a SIRT6 “centenarian” gene therapy in aged dogs, with the study reported as having started in March 2025. The idea behind such work is to explore whether targeted gene therapy approaches can influence biological pathways associated with aging and age-related decline.

Studies involving companion animals can be meaningful in longevity research because dogs share many environmental factors with humans, and age-related conditions can be observed in ways that sometimes translate more naturally than in simpler lab models. That said, it’s still a careful step-by-step pathway: proof-of-concept data helps inform whether a program deserves larger trials, deeper investment, or refinement.

2) Exploring GF-1002 in MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis)

Genflow has also been linked to plans for a clinical trial examining potential benefits of GF-1002 in MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis). MASH is a serious liver condition connected to metabolic dysfunction and can lead to inflammation, fibrosis, and long-term complications. Because metabolic health and aging biology can intersect, it is not unusual for biotech firms focused on age-related pathways to evaluate opportunities in metabolic disease areas.

For many investors, programs connected to well-defined disease markets can also help clarify potential commercial pathways, especially when the broader “aging” category feels too wide. A disease-focused program can provide clearer regulatory and clinical endpoints.

Why U.S. capital markets experience can be a big advantage

Genflow specifically highlighted Berdugo’s experience with U.S. capital markets and biotech company-building. For a public biotech company, access to the right capital at the right time can determine whether promising science reaches meaningful proof points—or stalls before it gets there.

U.S. markets also tend to have:

• large pools of specialist biotech investors,
• active partnering ecosystems, and
• deep networks of scientific and clinical collaborators.

By bringing in a chairman with U.S.-connected experience and an advisory background, Genflow appears to be signaling that it wants to expand its reach and credibility across borders, not just within the UK and Europe.

Governance note: independence and share ownership

Genflow stated that Berdugo will serve as Independent Non-Executive Chairman and also noted that he does not own shares in the company at the time of the announcement. Independence is often emphasized to reassure shareholders that oversight is objective and aligned with good governance practices, especially during a phase where strategic decisions, financing, and program prioritization become increasingly important.

Share ownership disclosures can matter to investors for transparency. Some readers interpret non-ownership as neutral (independence), while others prefer to see direct equity alignment over time. Either way, clear disclosure is generally seen as a positive governance practice.

What to watch next: likely near-term priorities

Genflow’s announcement doesn’t list a full roadmap, but it strongly suggests the company’s priorities for the coming period. Based on the themes raised—“next phase,” 2026 readouts, stronger IP, and strategic focus—here are practical areas many stakeholders will likely watch:

• Upcoming data windows: progress updates and results expected during 2026.
• Program selection and prioritization: which assets get the most funding and attention.
• Delivery and platform strategy: whether Genflow announces partnerships or technical decisions related to delivery technologies.
• Commercial and partnering activity: deals, collaborations, or research alliances that validate the science.
• Funding strategy: how the company positions itself for capital needs tied to key milestones.

For biotech companies, the “story” is never just one press release—it’s the follow-through: consistent execution, credible data, and transparent communication.

Broader context: why longevity-focused biotech is gaining attention

Interest in therapies that address the biology of aging has grown significantly in recent years. Scientists increasingly study aging as a set of biological mechanisms—such as cellular repair, inflammation control, and metabolic regulation—rather than as a single unstoppable process. The hope is that addressing these mechanisms could reduce the burden of multiple diseases at once.

However, it’s important to keep expectations realistic: the path from discovery to approved therapies is long, and the best biotech companies balance ambition with discipline. Genflow is trying to present itself in that disciplined category—building around identifiable programs, development plans, and governance upgrades that support scale.

Conclusion

Genflow’s appointment of Gad Berdugo as Independent Non-Executive Chairman signals a clear intent to strengthen leadership as the company moves into a more execution-heavy stage. By combining Berdugo’s experience in biotech growth, partnerships, and U.S. capital markets with continued board continuity from Tamara Joseph, Genflow is presenting this change as both a stability move and a momentum move.

With key milestones anticipated in 2026 and ongoing work in gene therapy and metabolic disease areas, stakeholders will likely watch for concrete progress updates, data readouts, and strategic actions that support Genflow’s ambition to develop therapies for age-related diseases.

Read more background from Genflow directly: Genflow leadership page

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