CHARM Therapeutics announced the appointment of Dr. Erkut Bahceci as Chief Medical Officer on September 8, 2025, positioning the company to advance its next-generation menin inhibitor into clinical development. The appointment follows CHARM's $80 million Series B financing, co-led by NEA and SR One, specifically earmarked to support the development of this potential new treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Clinical Development Leadership
As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Bahceci will spearhead clinical development strategy and execution as CHARM prepares its lead menin inhibitor for first-in-human studies. The company expects clinical development to commence in 2026, marking a critical milestone in bringing this innovative therapy to patients with AML.
Dr. Bahceci brings more than two decades of specialized experience in hematology, oncology, and stem cell transplantation. His track record includes leading global drug development programs through both early and late-stage trials, encompassing regulatory submissions and approvals in oncology.
Industry Experience and Background
Prior to joining CHARM, Dr. Bahceci served as Chief Medical Officer at BlueSphere Bio, where he oversaw clinical development across hematologic malignancies, rare diseases, and solid tumors. His extensive pharmaceutical industry experience includes senior leadership positions at several major companies.
At Takeda Oncology, he held the role of Senior Vice President and Head of Oncology Development. Previously, as Vice President Medical Science-Hematology at Astellas Pharma US, he led the clinical development of gilteritinib. His career also includes senior medical leadership roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Bayer HealthCare. Dr. Bahceci earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Marmara University.
Next-Generation Menin Inhibition Technology
CHARM's lead compound represents a significant advancement in menin inhibition technology. The next-generation menin inhibitor was discovered using the company's proprietary protein-ligand co-folding platform, DragonFold, which enables the design of therapeutics specifically engineered to overcome resistance mutations.
Gary Glick, Executive Chair of CHARM Therapeutics, emphasized the strategic importance of the appointment: "We welcome Erkut to CHARM at an important time for the Company. Our next-generation menin inhibitor, discovered using our proprietary protein–ligand co-folding platform, DragonFold, is designed to overcome resistance mutations and deliver deeper, more durable responses for patients with AML. Erkut's leadership experience in oncology drug development and regulatory strategy will be critical as we move into the clinic."
Addressing Treatment Resistance
The therapeutic approach addresses a critical challenge in AML treatment by targeting resistance mutations that can limit the effectiveness of current therapies. Dr. Bahceci highlighted this potential in his statement: "CHARM's approach to next generation menin inhibition offers potential to address all known resistance mutations. I am excited to be working with the team to advance this exciting approach into clinical development to deliver meaningful benefit for patients with AML."
CHARM Therapeutics, founded by Laksh Aithani and David Baker, positions itself as a biotechnology company pioneering precision oncology treatments through its proprietary AI-driven drug discovery platform. The company's focus on next-generation therapeutics represents an evolution in targeted cancer treatment, particularly for hematologic malignancies like AML.
