LIfT BioSciences, a rapidly emerging UK biotech company specializing in neutrophil immuno-therapies, has appointed Dr. Mark A. Exley as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), effective April 7, 2025. The strategic appointment comes as the company prepares to advance its innovative cell therapy platform into clinical trials for treating resistant solid tumors.
Dr. Exley brings over three decades of experience in immunology research and development, spanning from discovery to late-stage clinical trials in both industry and academic settings. His expertise will be crucial as LIfT moves its proprietary Neutrophil-based Leukocyte Infusion Therapy (N-LIfT) platform into human studies.
"I am delighted to announce the appointment of Mark as our new CSO," said Alex Blyth, Chief Executive Officer of LIfT BioSciences. "He joins LIfT at an exciting time as we prepare to progress our proprietary Neutrophil-based Leukocyte Infusion Therapy platform into the clinic. His wealth of experience in cell therapies and clinical trial design will prove invaluable as we enter this next significant stage of development."
A Distinguished Career in Immunology
Dr. Exley most recently served as Chief Scientific Officer at Imvax Inc., a private clinical-stage biotech developing personalized immunotherapies against solid tumors. Prior to this role, he was Vice President of Immunology at the predecessor company of MiNK Therapeutics, a NASDAQ-listed clinical-stage biopharma focused on allogeneic natural killer T cell therapies for cancer and immune-mediated diseases, where he remains a Scientific Advisory Board Member.
His entrepreneurial experience includes co-founding NKT Therapeutics, and he has provided consulting expertise to various biotechs and venture capital funds, including Abingworth. Dr. Exley's academic credentials are equally impressive, having held positions of increasing seniority at Harvard Medical School and the University of Manchester, UK.
Dr. Exley holds a PhD in Cell Biology from the Institute of Cancer Research, an MSc in Immunology from King's College London, and a BSc in Biochemistry from Imperial College London.
Pioneering Neutrophil-Based Immunotherapy
LIfT BioSciences has developed a first-in-class cell therapy that harnesses the power of neutrophils to combat solid tumors. The company's Immunomodulatory Alpha Neutrophils (IMANs) are designed to kill cancer cells in a non-antigen specific manner and transform the tumor microenvironment to promote durable responses and lasting immunity.
"LIfT's first-in-class cell therapy offers a novel approach to solid tumor treatment, harnessing the largely untapped power of neutrophils to prevent tumor escape and relapse," said Dr. Exley. "The company's preclinical data is compelling, and I look forward to collaborating with the team and applying my R&D expertise to advance N-LIfT through clinical development, bringing us a step closer to making this transformative therapy available to patients in need."
Strategic Timing for Clinical Advancement
The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for LIfT BioSciences as it prepares to transition from preclinical research to clinical trials. The company recently announced a significant collaboration with Gift of Life Biologics, providing access to half a million allogeneic donors—a critical resource for its cell therapy development program.
LIfT's patented N-LIfT platform utilizes exceptional stem cells (HPC, iPSC, or HSC), proprietary enhancement media, and genetic engineering to produce its therapeutic neutrophils. The company holds extensive patents covering the allogeneic neutrophil space in oncology and other therapeutic areas.
Addressing Unmet Needs in Solid Tumor Treatment
Despite advances in cancer therapy, solid tumors remain challenging to treat, with resistance and relapse presenting significant obstacles. LIfT's approach aims to overcome these limitations by rejuvenating immune competence and targeting the tumor microenvironment.
The company is also preparing initiatives with pharmaceutical license partners to develop a portfolio of engineered CAR IMAN cell therapies designed to destroy a range of solid tumors, potentially expanding the impact of its technology platform.
With Dr. Exley's appointment, LIfT BioSciences strengthens its scientific leadership as it advances toward clinical validation of its innovative approach to cancer immunotherapy, potentially offering new hope for patients with treatment-resistant solid tumors.
