Key Takeaways
- Andrea Pfeifer, CEO of AC Immune, retires, with Martin Zügel stepping in as interim CEO.
- Chris Sarchi joins Bicara Therapeutics as chief commercial officer to lead its commercialization efforts.
- Srikanth Pendyala is appointed CMO at Infinimmune, focusing on clinical strategies for antibody therapies.
Leadership Changes in Biotech Sector
Andrea Pfeifer, Ph.D., co-founder and longtime CEO of AC Immune, is retiring to dedicate more time to her family. In her absence, board chair Martin Zügel, M.D., will temporarily assume the position while the company searches for a permanent successor. Pfeifer has guided AC Immune through various challenges, including layoffs and halted trials, while also celebrating significant partnerships with major companies like Eli Lilly, Takeda, and Johnson & Johnson. Zügel remarked on AC Immune’s robust future, stating that it is well-equipped to advance transformative therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
In related news, Chris Sarchi has been appointed as chief commercial officer at Bicara Therapeutics following his prior role at Replimune. His extensive experience, which includes time at Sanofi and various biotech firms, positions him to help Bicara transition into a commercial enterprise. Sarchi will focus on preparing the firm to file with the FDA for its lead asset, ficerafusp alfa, currently in clinical trials for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Additionally, Infinimmune has announced the appointment of Srikanth Pendyala, M.D., as its chief medical officer. With over 25 years of experience in immunology and previous CMO roles at other biotech companies, Pendyala will lead clinical and regulatory strategies for Infinimmune’s primary candidates, IFX-101 and IFX-201. He expressed enthusiasm about working with the firm’s innovative approach to therapeutics resembling natural antibodies.
Other leadership changes include:
– Jae Kim, M.D., leaves Septerna Therapeutics for new opportunities, prompting a search for his replacement.
– CPTx has appointed Edward Rebar, Ph.D., as its new chief scientific officer and has promoted David Maier to chief business officer.
– AstronauTx is gearing up for clinical development with Dr. Michelle Mellion as CMO and Deb Gouveia managing clinical operations.
– Jo Brewer, Ph.D., transitions from Adaptimmune to Infinitopes as chief scientific officer and interim COO.
– The Quantitative Biosciences Institute at UCSF has tapped John Young, Ph.D., as chief strategy officer to enhance its therapeutic development.
– Starting June 1, Donn Casale will become president of ARS Pharmaceuticals, overseeing the launch of an epinephrine nasal spray.
– Mark Soued has been named chief commercial officer at MBX Biosciences, bringing substantial biopharma experience.
– Daniel Lyons joins Verastem Oncology as chief commercial officer, having previously held senior roles at SpringWorks Therapeutics.
These changes highlight the continuing evolution within the biotech sector as companies search for innovative leaders to help drive their missions forward.
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