Highlight Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing RNA-based therapies against cancer, announces the appointment of Carlos Paya, MD, PhD, as Executive Chairman with immediate effect.
Dr Ralph Weichselbaum, Dr. Antoni Ribas & Michael Docherty appointed to SAB
Company renamed to Highlight Therapeutics
MADRID, Spain, April 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Highlight Therapeutics (“Highlight”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing RNA-based therapies against cancer, announces the appointment of Carlos Paya, MD, PhD, as Executive Chairman with immediate effect. The Company has also significantly expanded its Advisory Board with a number of internationally-renowned scientific and industry leaders. In line with these changes, the Company has been renamed from Bioncotech Therapeutics to Highlight Therapeutics - see separate press release.
Marisol Quintero, CEO of Highlight, said: “Dr Paya’s impressive industry experience, his track record of guiding biotech companies through product development to global launch and his extensive reach with both scientists and investors will all be of great assistance to Highlight at this important point in our development. In addition, we have significantly expanded our Advisory Board with distinguished scientists and industry specialists of the highest caliber. These key appointments provide Highlight with the broad range of skills and know how to drive our ambition to unlock the potential of immunotherapy for many more patients.”
Dr. Paya has a distinguished track record of leadership in large-cap pharma and mid-cap biotech and start-up companies, with a focus on strategic execution, pipeline growth, product life cycle management and global product launches, as well as a number of successful public and private fundraises.
He is a director of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and of Fluidigm Corporation. Previously, he was president, chief executive officer and board member of Immune Design Corp., a late-stage immunotherapy company, from May 2011 until its acquisition by Merck & Co., Inc. in April 2019. He held leadership roles at Elan Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Co. in discovery research and clinical development. Prior to his industry roles, Dr. Paya spent nearly a decade at the Mayo Clinic-Rochester, including as professor of medicine, immunology and pathology and vice dean of the clinical investigation program.
Dr Paya received his medical and doctorate degrees from the Universidad Complutense of Madrid Medical School, and completed his specialty training in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Immunology at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine. He was a research scientist in a post-doctoral position at Institute Pasteur in Paris and completed the advanced management program at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.
The Company’s Scientific Advisory Board has expanded and now comprises:
| Ralph R. Weichselbaum MD |
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| Antoni Ribas MD, PhD |
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| Michael Doherty |
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For more information, please contact:
| Highlight Therapeutics | info@highlight.com |
| Marisol Quintero, CEO | |
| Mo PR Advisory | Tel: +44 (0) 7876 444977 / 07860 361746 |
| Mo Noonan / Jonathan Birt |
Notes to Editors
About Highlight Therapeutics
Highlight, formerly known as Bioncotech Therapeutics S.L, is a private, clinical-stage company dedicated to unlocking the full potential of immuno-oncology. Its lead drug candidate BO-112 is a best-in-class RNA-based therapy which has been demonstrated to initiate a powerful immune response, leveraging a unique multi-target approach to turn ‘cold’ tumors ‘hot’ and therefore visible to the immune system. It has the potential to rescue patients who are resistant to current checkpoint inhibitor therapy, a very large market opportunity. BO-112 is currently being investigated in a range of clinical trials as a monotherapy and in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. In addition to in-house research, Highlight Therapeutics has a number of external collaborators, including Merck & Co and UCLA.
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