One of the main initial tasks for Miguel will be to lead Zelluna through its next stage of development by driving clinical translation of the TCR pipeline.
Appointment to drive Zelluna through next stage of international clinical-phase development
Oslo, Norway, November 2, 2017 - Zelluna Immunotherapy, the biotechnology company specializing in T-cell receptor (TCR) immunotherapies targeting a broad range of solid cancers with a high unmet medical need, today announces the appointment of Miguel Forte as chief executive officer (CEO).
“Zelluna is developing a unique immunotherapy portfolio of non-engineered tumor specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) isolated from long term survivors from cancer vaccine trials conducted by former professor Gustav Gaudernack’s group at the Oslo University Hospital. This enables Zelluna to target some of the most common cancer antigens and cancer types. Its established partnerships also grant critical support including all capabilities of TCR development, one of Europe’s largest academic GMP cell therapy production facilities headed by professor Gunnar Kvalheim, and access to patients and clinical trial support through a dedicated Clinical Trial Unit,” said Anders Tuv, chairman of the board, Zelluna. “Appointing a CEO with the international experience and profile of Miguel Forte will be critical to further enhance the therapeutic, development and commercial potential of Zelluna, and push its leadership position in the international TCR and immunotherapy marketplaces.”
One of the main initial tasks for Miguel will be to lead Zelluna through its next stage of development by driving clinical translation of the TCR pipeline, developing new international scientific and commercial partnerships and forging relationships with the international investor communities. This includes positioning Zelluna’s therapeutic candidates in the context of the adoptive cell therapy market for targeted lymphocytes, development of off-the-shelf cell products and soluble TCR based biologics.
Zelluna selected Miguel Forte as CEO due to his extensive commercial experience in the regenerative medicine, cell therapy, medical and regulatory affairs industries. Miguel is also currently chief commercialization officer and chair of the commercialization committee for the International Society of Cellular Therapy, the global society of clinicians, researchers, regulatory specialists, technologists and industry partners in the cell therapy sector. Zelluna will utilize Miguel’s operational expertise in the development pipeline, from early and late stage clinical trials to market authorization and the launch of new biologic products for various indications.
Specifically, Miguel’s experience at Bone Therapeutics and TxCell will be important, where he contributed to transforming TxCell into a quoted cell therapy company and major commercial and scientific partnerships. Miguel will also contribute his experience forged at the European Medicines Agency, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abbott and Wellcome Laboratories (now part of GSK), Nabi Pharmaceuticals and UCB.
“Zelluna has a very strong foundation, based on over 30 years of cutting edge research. As a result, Zelluna now has a unique offering, both in the sourcing of its TCRs and its development partnerships and pathways,” said Miguel Forte, CEO, Zelluna. “I wished to join Zelluna to combine my experience to the considerable potential of Zelluna to position it as an international immunotherapy leader and bringing serious therapeutic options to patients of the most common and fatal solid cancers.”
About Zelluna Immunotherapy
Zelluna Immunotherapy specializes in immunotherapies targeting a broad range of solid cancers with a high unmet medical need. The company is developing a unique portfolio of non-engineered tumor specific T-cell receptors (TCRs) isolated from long term surviving patients from cancer vaccine trials. The TCRs combine specificity and affinity to have the potential for a safe and efficient therapy to target a variety of common cancer types. Zelluna has a long term CRADA with the Department for Cell Therapy at Oslo University Hospital (OUH), providing comprehensive capabilities of TCR development, ranging from lead discovery to clinical translation. The owners of Zelluna are Radforsk, Inven2, Birk Venture, RO Invest and Prieta. For more information, please visit www.zelluna.com.
