Adaptimmune Broadens Executive Team
March 15 2017 - 07:30AM
Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq:ADAP), a leader in T-cell
therapy to treat cancer, today announced that it has broadened its
executive team with the appointment of co-founder, Helen
Tayton-Martin, Ph.D., M.B.A, to the newly-created role of Chief
Business Officer, and Mr. William (Bill) Bertrand, Jr., J.D., as
Chief Operating Officer. Both appointments are effective
immediately.
Adaptimmune has an unrivalled portfolio of SPEAR T-cells, with
four INDs open, including three for its wholly-owned SPEAR T-cells.
Adaptimmune is also progressing pre-clinical work on a number of
other targets, other HLA programs, second-generation products,
allogeneic cells and autoimmune disease, and has a partnership with
Bellicum to evaluate its switch technology.
Dr. Tayton-Martin has transitioned from her prior role as COO to
the new CBO position that will see her focus entirely on optimizing
the strategic and commercial opportunity for the Company’s assets.
Her new role encompasses all aspects of pipeline and technology
assessment, strategic portfolio analysis, partnerships and
commercial planning. She will retain responsibility for alliances
including the strategic partnership with GSK.
Mr. Bertrand, a highly experienced senior leader within the U.S.
biotech industry, will assume responsibility for a range of
operational functions, including compliance, risk management, human
resources and legal/IP, based at Adaptimmune’s U.S. headquarters in
Philadelphia. Mr. Bertrand will work closely with Dr. Tayton-Martin
and the rest of the executive team in helping to prepare
Adaptimmune for its next stage of development.
“We are delighted to welcome Bill Bertrand on board. Having been
a senior executive at numerous life sciences companies, he brings
extensive operational and management experience that is invaluable
to support our next development stage, and, importantly, this
appointment will also enable Helen Tayton-Martin to focus
exclusively on maximizing the commercial opportunity for our
substantial pipeline,” said James Noble, Adaptimmune’s Chief
Executive Officer.
“This is a very exciting time for Adaptimmune as we progress
four INDs enabling nine studies across 11 indications. I am pleased
to be able to focus entirely on strategically optimizing our
portfolio and partnerships,” commented Dr. Tayton-Martin.
“I am enthusiastic about joining Adaptimmune,” said Mr.
Bertrand. “I believe the Company has great potential and it has
already achieved numerous key milestones, with a very exciting
future in prospect. I look forward to working with James and the
rest of the team as we continue to build Adaptimmune for its next
stage of growth and prepare for and deliver our pipeline to
patients.”
Dr. Tayton-Martin has 25 years of experience working within the
pharma, biotech and consulting environment in disciplines across
preclinical and clinical development, outsourcing, strategic
planning, due diligence and business development. She formerly
served as Chief Operating Officer and is a co-founder of
Adaptimmune, joining from Avidex Limited (subsequently Medigene)
where she was responsible for commercial development of the soluble
TCR program in cancer and HIV therapy. Dr. Tayton-Martin holds a
Ph.D. in molecular immunology from the University of Bristol, U.K.
and an M.B.A. from London Business School.
Mr. Bertrand’s prior experience includes a 12 year tenure at
MedImmune, where he served as its first General Counsel and Chief
Compliance Officer, along with holding a variety of operational and
corporate strategy roles. He has also formerly served as Executive
Vice President, General Counsel for Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
and as Senior Vice President, Acting Chief Operating Officer and
General Counsel for Salix Pharmaceuticals, where he remained as
General Manager to help finalize the integration of the company's
$14 billion acquisition by Valeant Pharmaceuticals in April 2015.
He is currently a member of the board of directors of Ardelyx, Inc.
(Nasdaq:ARDX). Mr. Bertrand received a J.D. from the University of
Wisconsin and a B.S. in biology from Wayne State University.
About AdaptimmuneAdaptimmune is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development
of novel cancer immunotherapy products. The Company’s unique SPEAR®
(Specific Peptide Enhanced Affinity Receptor) T‑cell platform
enables the engineering of T-cells to target and destroy cancer,
including solid tumors. Adaptimmune has a number of proprietary
clinical programs, and is also developing its NY-ESO SPEAR T-cell
program under a strategic collaboration and licensing agreement
with GlaxoSmithKline. The Company is located in Philadelphia, USA
and Oxfordshire, U.K. For more information, please visit
http://www.adaptimmune.com
Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains
“forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA). These
forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties.
Such risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to
differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking
statements, and include, without limitation: the success, cost and
timing of our product development activities and clinical trials
and our ability to successfully advance our TCR therapeutic
candidates through the regulatory and commercialization processes.
For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could
cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed
in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to
our business in general, we refer you to our Annual Report on Form
10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on
March 13, 2017, and our other SEC filings. The forward-looking
statements contained in this press release speak only as of the
date the statements were made and we do not undertake any
obligation to update such forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent events or circumstances.
Adaptimmune Contacts
Investor Relations
Will Roberts
T: (215) 825-9306
E: will.roberts@adaptimmune.com
Juli Miller, Ph.D.
T: (215) 825-9310
E: juli.miller@adaptimmune.com
Media Relations
Margaret Henry
T: +44 (0)1235 430036
Cell: +44 (0)7710 304249
E: margaret.henry@adaptimmune.com
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