The biopharmaceutical industry saw two CEO appointments made today, including Howard J. Federoff, M.D., Ph.D., to Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics and Eric Koo to Overland ADCT BioPharma.
The biopharmaceutical industry saw two chief executive officer (CEO) appointments made today, including Howard J. Federoff, M.D., Ph.D., to Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics and Eric Koo to Overland ADCT BioPharma.
Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics
Federoff will succeed Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics’ interim CEO Ronald Guido, who will remain on the company’s management team in the role of chief development officer. Federoff takes the helm of Brooklyn as the company strives to advance development of IRX-2., a human cell-derived (hd) IL-2 therapeutic being studied in patients with head and neck cancer, and to develop other novel therapies for patients with cancer and other diseases.
Brooklyn explores the efficacy and safety of cytokine-based therapies in cancer. The company also looks at ways it can advance different cancer treatments using gene editing/cell therapy technology through an option agreement with Factor Bioscience/Novellus.
A Phase IIA clinical trial found its most advanced therapy candidate IRX-2 featured an overall survival benefit in patients with head and neck cancer, propelling Brooklyn to advance further studies on the therapy.
Federoff is a professor of neurology at the University of California, Irvine, and the former CEO of UCI Health. Prior to his time at UCI Health, Federoff served as executive vice president of Health Sciences and executive dean at Georgetown University. He has published over 275 peer-reviewed and invited articles. In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Federoff has also cofounded neurologic disease-focused MedGenesis Therapeutix and Brain Neurotherapy Bio.
“Brooklyn’s IRX-2 product offers a significant opportunity to improve patient outcomes both as a monotherapy and in combination with other anti-cancer drugs including immune-oncology therapies,” Federoff said in a statement. “My top priorities will be the clinical advancement of IRX-2 in solid tumor indications as well as seeking opportunities to in-license new therapeutic agents that can extend and enhance the lives of patients fighting cancer and other serious diseases. This is an exciting time in oncology drug development, and I believe that Brooklyn ImmunoTherapeutics will be a leader in advancing patient care.”
Overland ADCT BioPharma
At Overland ADCT BioPharma, Eric Koo comes on board as the company’s CEO as it seeks to advance its lead program candidate Lonca, a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to work against human CD19 in patients with DLBCL. This candidate was born from the formation of the company by ADC Therapeutics and Overland Pharmaceuticals.
Other candidates in Overland’s portfolio include ADCT-602 targeting CD22, which is in Phase I/II research for relapsed or refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia, as well as ADCT-601 targeting AXL, which is under Phase I investigation in patients with selected advanced solid tumors.
Most recently, Koo was the vice president, head of oncology business unit at Takeda China, focusing primarily on multiple myeloma and lymphoma. Koo also previously was the director, oncology business unit and director, market access, external affairs & key account management at Merck, Sharp and Dome (MSD) Taiwan.
“Overland ADCT BioPharma has a tremendous opportunity to bridge the clinical gap between the U.S., Europe and Asia through the expanded reach of innovative cancer medicines like antibody drug conjugates,” said Eric Koo, BSc, MBA, in a statement. “It is an honor to assume the role of Chief Executive Officer and I look forward to working closely with both teams at Overland Pharmaceuticals and ADC Therapeutics to develop and commercialize the pipeline in greater China and Singapore.”
