Geoffrey Lynn
About Geoffrey Lynn
Geoffrey Lynn, M.D., D.Phil., is Chief Scientific Officer at Barinthus Biotherapeutics (BRNS) effective December 1, 2024; he is 40 years old and holds an M.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford . He founded and led Avidea Technologies from its launch at Johns Hopkins FastForward in October 2016 through its acquisition by Barinthus in December 2021, and is co‑inventor of the Company’s SNAP‑Tolerance Immunotherapy (SNAP‑TI) platform that anchors BRNS’s strategic shift to immune tolerance . The proxy and 8‑K filings reviewed do not disclose TSR or company‑level revenue/EBITDA growth linked specifically to his tenure .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avidea Technologies, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer & Founder | Oct 2016 – Dec 2021 | Led financing, team expansion, operations; culminated in acquisition by Barinthus Bio in Dec 2021 . |
| Barinthus Biotherapeutics | Chief Scientific Officer | Dec 2024 – Present | Promoted to CSO; co‑inventor of SNAP‑TI as Company pivots to I&I immune tolerance programs . |
External Roles
- No public company directorships or external roles are disclosed for Dr. Lynn in the 2025 proxy or related 8‑K filings reviewed .
Fixed Compensation
- The Company’s policy outlines executive compensation components but does not disclose Dr. Lynn’s specific base salary, target bonus, or benefits (he is not a named executive officer in the Summary Compensation Table) . Salary is reviewed periodically (normally annually); benefits include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; retirement arrangements are jurisdiction‑specific, with the U.S. plan featuring 401(k) with Company match up to 5% under current CEO plan; costs/maximums vary by component .
| Component | Policy/Operation | Maximum/Opportunity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base salary | Reviewed by Committee, set considering role scope, market, performance | No formal maximum | Applies to executives; individual amounts for Lynn not disclosed . |
| Benefits | Health, dental, vision, disability, life; relocation/expatriation possible | No stated cap | Reimbursable business expenses as appropriate . |
| Retirement | U.S. 401(k) participation with Company match up to 5% (current CEO); other jurisdictions vary | Match up to 5% (U.S. current CEO policy) | Lynn‑specific retirement details not disclosed . |
Performance Compensation
- Annual cash bonus: Normally ≤100% of base salary; measured over the financial year against corporate objectives (financial and/or strategic); measures and targets set annually by the Compensation Committee. A recovery (clawback) policy was adopted on November 9, 2023 to comply with SEC requirements. Lynn‑specific bonus targets/metrics/payouts are not disclosed .
| Metric | Weighting | Target | Actual | Payout | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate performance objectives (financial/strategic) | Not disclosed | Set annually by Committee | Not disclosed (for Lynn) | Not disclosed (for Lynn) | Cash, paid following year; subject to clawback policy adopted Nov 9, 2023 . |
- Equity incentives: Company uses equity awards to align executives with shareholders and support retention; specific 2024 outstanding award details are disclosed for NEOs (CEO, CFO, COO) with options typically vesting in three equal annual installments; no Lynn‑specific equity grant table is included in the proxy .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
- Beneficial ownership: The 2025 proxy lists 5% holders and NEOs/directors; Dr. Lynn is not included as an NEO or director and thus no individual beneficial ownership line is provided for him in that table .
- Hedging/pledging: Insider trading policy restricts transactions; pledging Company securities is permitted only with prior Audit Committee approval; no disclosure indicates that Dr. Lynn has pledged or hedged BRNS stock .
- Typical option vesting (as disclosed for NEOs): options vest in three equal annual installments, subject to continued service; specific vesting schedules for Lynn are not disclosed .
Employment Terms
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Appointment | Promoted to Chief Scientific Officer effective December 1, 2024 . |
| Employment agreement terms | Not disclosed for Dr. Lynn in the 8‑K or proxy filings reviewed . |
| Service contracts | The Company states service contracts/letters of appointment are available for inspection at the registered office . |
| Clawback policy | Recovery policy adopted Nov 9, 2023 addressing SEC requirements (applies to incentive compensation) . |
| Change‑of‑control treatment (plans) | Equity plan rules provide that upon corporate events including a change of control, the Committee exercises discretion on vesting based on time elapsed and performance condition satisfaction; CEO‑specific severance terms are disclosed separately and should not be assumed for other executives . |
| Termination and equity | Prior policy disclosures state the Committee may determine vesting treatment upon termination based on time elapsed and performance conditions; plan rules govern treatment (historical policy language) . |
Performance & Track Record
- Platform/execution: As SNAP‑TI co‑inventor, Lynn is closely tied to BRNS’s pivot to antigen‑specific immune tolerance; the Company is prioritizing VTP‑1000 for celiac disease (Phase 1 ongoing) and concentrating operations in Germantown, MD as part of a 65% RIF to extend cash runway into 2027 .
- Program momentum: The promotion press release cites “functional cures” achieved with VTP‑300 in chronic HBV and VTP‑1000’s entry into clinic, underscoring the scientific foundation for the new strategy .
- Organizational impact: The strategic focus makes SNAP‑TI central to value creation, increasing the CSO’s role in pipeline design and execution .
Investment Implications
- Alignment and incentives: Lynn’s pay and equity specifics are not disclosed (he is not an NEO), but Company policy relies on annual performance‑linked cash bonuses (subject to clawback) and equity awards that typically vest over multiple years, supporting retention and alignment; absence of disclosed pledging by Lynn reduces misalignment risk .
- Key‑person/retention risk: As co‑inventor of SNAP‑TI and CSO during a strategic pivot to immune tolerance with U.S. site consolidation, Lynn is central to R&D success; limited public detail on his long‑term equity and severance reduces visibility into retention protections, a potential risk to monitor .
- Execution signals: Near‑term clinical milestones (VTP‑1000 Phase 1 data) and the Company’s emphasis on SNAP‑TI heighten the importance of Lynn’s execution track record for value creation; watch for future proxies or 8‑Ks disclosing his compensation grants, vesting schedules, and any insider transactions as indicators of confidence or selling pressure .