NEW HAVEN, Conn., Feb. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kleo
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an immuno-oncology company developing
next-generation, fully synthetic bispecific compounds designed to
emulate or enhance the activity of biologics, announced today the
appointment of CEO Doug Manion, MD,
FCRP (C), to Chairman of the Board. He will replace Thomas J.
Lynch, Jr., MD, the former Chief Scientific Officer of
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS), who was recently appointed
president and director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research
Center. Tom will vacate his directorship with Kleo, but will remain
a consultant to the company.
"We believe the Hutch made a fantastic selection in choosing Tom
to guide its highly-respected institution," said Doug Manion. "Tom has been a nationally
recognized leader in academic medicine for more than three
decades. We are happy for Tom and wish him the best in his
new role. I am honored to bring Kleo forward as Chairman of the
Board of Directors and CEO. We have exciting work ahead in the
clinic to demonstrate proof-of-concept with our CD38-based antibody
recruiting molecule in patients with multiple myeloma."
"I want to congratulate Doug on his appointment as Chairman of
the Board of Directors of Kleo Pharmaceuticals, especially as the
company just announced earlier this month that it received IND
authorization from FDA to proceed in its multiple myeloma
therapeutic trial," said Dr. Lynch. "Given his immunoscience
experience and previous leadership roles, Doug is uniquely
qualified to lead Kleo into its development and, ultimately,
commercialization stage. I am very impressed with Kleo's science
and the impact it may have on improving the lives of people with
cancer. I am honored to continue to be involved with the Kleo
team as a consultant as I move on to the next chapter of my career
at the Hutch."
Dr. Manion joined Kleo as CEO in 2017 to advance Kleo's novel
technology platform in immuno-oncology. Previously Dr. Manion was
Senior Vice President, Head of Specialty Development and Head of
Japan and China R&D at
Bristol-Myers Squib. Since joining BMS in 2005, he held leadership
roles overseeing various therapeutic areas, including virology,
immunoscience, neurology, cardiology, metabolic diseases,
genetically-defined diseases and fibrosis. From 2001 to 2005, he
was Vice President of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs for
HIV/AIDS at GlaxoSmithKline. He started his career at DuPont
Pharmaceuticals in 1997. He is Board Certified in Internal
Medicine and completed his Fellowship in Infectious Diseases in
Ottawa, Canada. He received a
clinical and bench research fellowship at Massachusetts General
Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Doug also serves on the Board of Directors of Celleron
Therapeutics.
About Kleo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Kleo Pharmaceuticals
is a unique immuno-oncology company developing next-generation
bispecific compounds designed to emulate or enhance the activity of
biologics based on the groundbreaking research of its scientific
founder Dr. David Spiegel at Yale
University. Similar to complex biologic drugs, Kleo's
compounds recruit the immune system to destroy cancer cells, with
the advantage of being smaller and more versatile, leading to
potentially improved safety and efficacy over biologics. They are
also much faster and more efficient to design and produce,
particularly against novel targets. Kleo is advancing several drug
candidates based on its proprietary technology platforms, all of
which are modular in design and enable rapid generation of novel
immunotherapies that can be optimized against certain cancers, or
enhance the properties of existing immunotherapies. These include
Antibody Recruiting Molecules (ARMs), Synthetic Antibody Mimics
(SyAMs) and Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Enhancers (MATEs). Biohaven
Pharmaceutical Holding Company (NYSE: BHVN) and PeptiDream Inc.
(Nikkei: PPTDF) are investors in Kleo
Pharmaceuticals. For more information visit
http://kleopharmaceuticals.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking
statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including
statements that are based on the current expectations and
assumptions of the Company's management. All statements, other than
statements of historical facts, included in this press release
regarding the Company's plans and objectives, expectations and
assumptions of management are forward-looking statements. The use
of certain words, including the words "estimate," "project,"
"intend," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "will," "plan,"
"could," "may" and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made
as of this date and the Company does not undertake any obligation
to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Maureen McEnroe, CFA (Investors)
212-375-2664
mmcenroe@tiberend.com
Ingrid Mezo (Media)
646-604-5150
imezo@tiberend.com
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SOURCE Kleo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.