Seraxis Holdings, Inc. and Sernova Biotherapeutics Inc. (TSX: SVA) (OTC: SEOVF) announced the appointment of Patricia Beaston, MD, PhD, as Chief Medical Officer of Seraxis. Upon completion of the companies' proposed merger to form BetaNova Biotherapeutics, Inc., Dr. Beaston is expected to hold the same role at the combined company.

Dr. Beaston spent 24 years as a Medical Officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, working across three agency centers: the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, and most recently the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, where her work included islet cell transplantation, immune modulation in type 1 diabetes, cell and gene therapies, and xenotransplantation.

The appointment comes as Seraxis prepares to initiate a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SR-02, its pancreatic stem cell-derived insulin-producing islets, with first patient dosing targeted for the first quarter of 2027. SR-02 has received FDA Investigational New Drug clearance for that trial.

The proposed merger would combine Seraxis' stem cell-derived pancreatic islets and manufacturing capabilities with Sernova's Cell Pouch Bio-hybrid Organ. The transaction remains subject to closing conditions, including regulatory and shareholder approvals, and there is no assurance it will close on the expected timeline or at all.

BetaNova also intends to advance SR-03, a gene-edited islet cell therapy designed to reduce immune recognition and potentially eliminate the need for chronic immunosuppression, with an IND submission targeted for the second half of 2027.

Dr. Beaston holds a PhD in Anatomy and Neurobiology and an MD from the Medical College of Pennsylvania, and a BS in Zoology from the University of Maryland. She completed a fellowship in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism at Penn State/Hershey.