Biond Biologics Appoints Veteran Immuno-Oncology Executive Giovanni Selvaggi as Chief Medical Officer
Key Insights
Biond Biologics (search) has appointed Giovanni Selvaggi, M.D., a physician-scientist with over 30 years of oncology experience, as its new Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Selvaggi previously led clinical development and regulatory strategy at Xcovery Holdings (search) and held senior immuno-oncology roles at Bristol Myers Squibb (search), contributing to nivolumab's regulatory filing in small cell lung cancer (search).
His appointment comes as Biond advances two first-in-class immunotherapy programs: BND-22 in Phase 2 studies and BND-67, which recently entered first-in-human trials.
MISGAV, Israel — Biond Biologics (search) Ltd., a private clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on first-in-class immunotherapies for cancer and immune-mediated diseases, announced on June 22, 2026 the appointment of Giovanni Selvaggi, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Selvaggi brings more than 30 years of oncology experience and a proven track record of advancing global clinical programs with novel cancer therapies through to registration.
Dr. Selvaggi is a board-certified pulmonologist and thoracic oncology specialist who spent more than a decade treating patients and conducting clinical research in lung cancer and mesothelioma (search) at the University of Turin and San Luigi Hospital in Italy. Over the course of his career, he has led the clinical development of multiple oncology programs from early-stage research through regulatory submissions, spanning immuno-oncology therapies, targeted therapies, cancer vaccines, and oncolytic viruses.
"We are delighted to welcome Giovanni to Biond at a transformative stage in the Company's growth," said Tehila Ben Moshe, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Biond Biologics (search). "Biond now has two highly differentiated clinical-stage immunotherapy programs, including BND-22, currently advancing in Phase 2 studies, and BND-67, which recently entered a first-in-human study. Giovanni brings a unique combination of deep oncology expertise, immuno-oncology leadership, and hands-on experience advancing innovative therapies from early clinical development through regulatory filings."
A Career Spanning Academia and Industry
Prior to joining Biond, Dr. Selvaggi most recently served as CMO of Xcovery Holdings (search), where he led the clinical development and regulatory strategy for ensartinib, including its global Phase 3 program and regulatory interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At Bristol Myers Squibb (search), he held senior leadership positions leading immuno-oncology clinical development programs in small cell lung cancer (search), mesothelioma (search), and non-small cell lung cancer (search), contributing to the regulatory filing of nivolumab in small cell lung cancer.
His earlier career included senior development roles at Novartis Oncology (search), GlaxoSmithKline, Oncolytics Biotech, and Imugene, building a broad foundation across both large pharmaceutical and biotechnology organizations.
Biond's Differentiated Pipeline
Biond's clinical pipeline features two first-in-class immunotherapy programs. BND-22 is a first-in-class antibody that acts as a multi-cell checkpoint inhibitor targeting the ILT2 (search) receptor, currently advancing in a Phase 2 study. The therapy enhances the anti-tumor activity of both innate and adaptive immune cells by blocking the interaction between ILT2 and HLA-G (search) for the treatment of solid tumors (search).
BND-67 represents a next-generation immunotherapy and first-in-class asset targeting CD28 (search) shedding, a novel immune evasion mechanism with the potential to redefine T-cell modulation in cancer. By preserving CD28 signaling, BND-67 enhances effector T-cell activity while selectively inhibiting regulatory T-cell function, driving a potent and sustained anti-tumor response. The program is IND-ready, with a Phase 1 trial planned for the second quarter of 2026.
"I am excited to join Biond at a crucial development stage and contribute to the advancement of its innovative immunotherapy portfolio," said Dr. Selvaggi. "Biond has built a compelling pipeline based on novel biological insights and differentiated mechanisms of action. BND-67 represents a particularly exciting opportunity to unlock the full potential of T-cell immunity through a completely new approach to restoring physiological CD28 (search) signaling."
Founded in 2016 by Tehila Ben Moshe, Ph.D., Ori Shilo, and a team of scientists and drug developers from the Israeli biopharmaceutical industry, Biond Biologics (search) continues to expand its pipeline across both oncology and immune-mediated diseases. The company believes Dr. Selvaggi's clinical leadership will further strengthen its ability to execute its clinical strategy and unlock the full potential of its first-in-class pipeline.