Occam Recruits CEO for Khosla, GV, and Third Rock Investment EveryONE Medicines

In June 2024, Occam Global recruited Kent Rogers as CEO of EveryONE Medicines, the first biotech solely dedicated to developing personalized genetic medicines.  

Kent Rogers is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of experience in product commercialization, supply chain logistics, and growth strategy across top-tier pharmaceutical firms and emerging biotechs. Previously, he served as the Chief Industry Relations Officer for OptumRx, led the global market access team at Acorda Therapeutics, and held various leadership roles in sales and market access at Schering-Plough and Merck. 

Kent holds a B.S. in Business Management from Indiana University and an M.B.A. from Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business.

ABOUT EVERYONE MEDICINES 

Backed by Khosla Ventures, GV, and Third Rock Ventures, EveryONE Medicines (EOM) is dedicated to creating precision therapies for unique genetic variants causing severe Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases.

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The story of EveryONE Medicine begins with Mila, a seemingly healthy child who started showing symptoms of speech and vision difficulties at age three. Despite numerous doctor visits, a diagnosis eluded her until age six when her condition rapidly worsened, and she was diagnosed with Batten Disease, a rare, fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Batten Disease causes blindness, cognitive impairment, and leaves children bedridden before they die at a young age, with no cure available.  Mila’s family started a foundation and embarked on a race against time to find and fund a cure for Mila, hoping to pave the way for treating hundreds of other rare diseases.

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In a groundbreaking effort, Dr. Timothy Yu, a neurologist of Boston Children’s Hospital, developed milasen, an antisense oligonucleotide specifically targeting Mila’s unique mutation, making her the first person worldwide to receive a medicine tailored for just one individual.  This drug temporarily improved Mila's quality of life but ultimately could not prevent her untimely death at age 10.

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Inspired by this, Mila’s mother, Julia Vitarello, has dedicated herself to revolutionizing the treatment of rare diseases in children. She co-founded EveryONE Medicines to create a sustainable model for providing individualized treatments to all patients who could benefit. Together, they are striving toward a future where personalized medicines are routine.

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The success of milasen has inspired further advancements in genomics and personalized medicine, including the launch of large-scale genetic screening programs. For example, the UK's Newborn Genomes Programme aims to sequence the DNA of 100,000 babies to identify and treat rare genetic diseases early. These initiatives highlight the growing capability to diagnose and treat genetic conditions more precisely, although widespread implementation remains fraught with logistical and ethical challenges.

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The future of personalized medicine is promising, with ongoing research and technological advancements. Efforts are being made to develop mRNA vaccines for various cancers and use AI to analyze genetic data for tailored treatments. However, significant hurdles remain, such as ensuring equitable access, managing costs, and addressing privacy concerns. Vitarello's advocacy continues to drive progress in the field, aiming to transform how rare diseases are treated and ensuring that the potential benefits of genomic medicine reach more patients. The legacy of Mila's story underscores the profound impact of personalized medicine and the urgent need for continued innovation and collaboration in this rapidly evolving field. Her story exemplifies both the potential and the challenges of personalized medicine.

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As more families seek similar therapies, the medical community must address these challenges to make personalized medicine more accessible. With Kent Rogers leading the EveryONE Medicines team, we are confident in the foundation for their commercial success and bringing life saving therapies to patients with rare diseases.. Furthermore, with growing legislative support and a central role in the UK pilot program for individualized medicines—the Rare Therapies Launch Pad—EveryONE Medicine is well-positioned to develop a sustainable and scalable pathway for individualized and precise genetic medicines for patients in need, all across the globe.

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For more information, visit www.everyonemedicines.com.