Key Opinion Leaders bring many years of ADC development expertise to the company
Duisburg, Germany – Marseille, France, 10 March 2020: Emergence Therapeutics today announced that is has established its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to support the company in its goal to develop novel and innovative antibody-drug-conjugates (ADCs). The distinguished SAB members are:
- Xavier Preville: chairman of the SAB, co-founder and CSO of Emergence Therapeutics
- Marc Lopez: Inserm research engineer at the Cancer Research Center of Marseille (CRCM – UMR 1068) and Emergence collaborator.
- Daniel Olive: Professor of Immunology at the Aix-Marseille Université and in charge of the Immunity and Cancer Research Team at the Cancer Research Center of Marseille (CRCM – UM 1068) and Emergence collaborator.
- François Romagné: Scientific Director of MI-mAbs, Professor of Immunotechnologies at Aix-Marseille Université and Cofounder and former CSO of Innate Pharma and Emergence collaborator.
- Andreas Pahl: CSO of Heidelberg Pharma and Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU) and Emergence collaborator.
- Rakesh Dixit: Ex VP R&D MedImmune (AZ) & independent ADC consultant
- Bob Lutz: Ex VP R&D Immunogen & independent ADC consultant
- John Lambert: Ex EVP and CSO Immunogen & independent ADC consultant
Dr. Xavier Preville, CSO of Emergence Therapeutics commented: “As Chairman of the SAB I am proud that Emergence has been able to attract such a distinguished group of experts, both in the field of ADC technology as well as in the field of ADC targets. The SAB clearly embodies the strategy of Emergence to develop novel ADCs to treat high unmet need cancers by selecting the best combination of validated targets and ADC technology.”
Dr. Rakesh Dixit, Independent Board Director and Member of the Scientific Advisory Board said: “The opportunity presented by ADCs to treat solid cancers of high unmet medical need, including triple negative breast, colorectal and pancreatic cancers, is really taking off. Recent innovations in ADC development combined with the approval of three new ADCs in 2019 alone have shown that the market is recognizing ADCs as potential breakthrough therapies. Using novel toxins, such as amanitin, next generation ADCs will provide the next level of innovation to fully deliver the potential of ADC based therapeutics.”
Dr. Marc Lopez, Inserm Research Engineer at the Cancer Research Center of Marseille (CRCM- Inserm U1068, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université), Emergence collaborator and Member of the Scientific Advisory Board mentioned: “The lead program of Emergence, Nectin-4, is a unique ADC target with limited expression in healthy tissues, but with high expression in bladder and breast cancer, both cancers with significant unmet needs. Being able to work with Emergence as a member of the SAB as well as a collaborator to develop a true best-in-class Nectin-4 ADC represents a significant opportunity to apply my scientific work to benefit patients.”