Avacta Group (AVCT ) has appointed Dr Christina Coughlin, the current Chief Executive of the cancer-focused biotechnology group CytoImmune Therapeutics, as a Non-executive Director.
Avacta, a clinical stage oncology drug company which is focused on developing diagnostics based on its innovative Affimer® and pre|CISION™ platforms, said Dr Coughlin has a proven track record of building drug development teams in a number of global pharma companies.
Dr. Coughlin has a broad background in biotechnology and global pharmaceuticals, with comprehensive drug development experience spanning programmes in pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) studies through late-stage trials and regulatory approval filings, it detailed.
The Company said Dr. Coughlin previously served as Chief Medical Officer to Rubius Therapeutics, Inc., where she led the clinical development, translational medicine and regulatory efforts for its programmes emerging from its allogeneic red cell therapy platform.
Prior to Rubius, she was with Tmunity Therapeutics servING as Chief Medical Officer and was responsible for the development of autologous CAR-T and TCR-T cellular therapies.
Shares in Avacta Group were trading 3.77% higher at 55p this morning following the news.
Avacta said Dr. Coughlin has also held other leadership roles in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields in her career, including Chief Medical Officer at Immunocore, heading the development of the soluble TCR platform, and Oncology Asset Team Leader at Pfizer.
Commenting on her appointment, Dr. Christina Coughlin, told investors: “I find the Affimer® and pre|CISION™ platforms to be highly innovative in the oncology field. I look forward to joining the Board and working with my new colleagues and the Avacta management team to develop novel therapies that will improve the lives of patients suffering from cancer.”
Also commenting, Dr. Alastair Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Avacta Group, stated: “I am very pleased, indeed, to welcome Christina to Avacta and the Board. Christina is a vastly experienced biotech executive and oncologist, and Avacta will benefit greatly from her knowledge and expertise in shaping the future strategy for the therapeutic business.”
Chairman of Avacta Group, Dr. Eliot Forster, commented: “Christina will bring a wealth of clinical and drug development experience and expertise which will be invaluable as we progress our pipeline of proprietary Affimer® and pre|CISION™ programmes in the clinic.”
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