Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company Instil Bio has appointed Jamie Freedman, M.D., Ph.D., as Chief Medical Officer to spearhead the development of its lead oncology asset AXN-2510, a novel PD-L1xVEGF bispecific antibody targeting multiple solid tumor cancers. The appointment positions the company with seasoned clinical leadership as it advances its differentiated immunotherapy platform.
Veteran Executive Joins Leadership Team
Dr. Freedman brings over 20 years of biopharmaceutical leadership experience to Instil Bio, with a distinguished track record spanning all phases of drug development, regulatory approval, and commercialization. His career has contributed to 15 drug approvals and successful launches across multiple therapeutic areas, with executive roles at leading pharmaceutical companies including Genentech, AstraZeneca, GSK, and Merck.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Freedman as Chief Medical Officer," stated Bronson Crouch, CEO of Instil Bio. "Jamie's extensive experience and leadership in biopharmaceutical R&D will be a tremendous asset in advancing AXN-2510."
Focus on Novel Bispecific Platform
AXN-2510 represents Instil Bio's lead therapeutic candidate, designed as a novel and differentiated PD-L1xVEGF bispecific antibody for treating multiple solid tumor cancers. The dual-targeting approach combines immune checkpoint inhibition with anti-angiogenic mechanisms, potentially offering enhanced therapeutic efficacy compared to single-target approaches.
"AXN-2510 has the potential to redefine the standard of care for solid tumors," said Dr. Freedman. "Our opportunity to accelerate the development of this promising PD-L1xVEGF bispecific is unique, and I'm excited to join an accomplished team to advance this program with scientific rigor and clinical urgency."
Clinical and Academic Background
Dr. Freedman serves as a practicing Hematologist-Oncologist with dual M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Tufts University. His clinical training includes Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and Hematology-Oncology at Harvard University. He maintains active clinical practice treating patients with blood and solid tumor cancers at the UCSF VA Medical Center, where he holds an adjunct faculty position.
Beyond traditional drug development, Dr. Freedman has pioneered inclusive clinical trials for underserved and underrepresented patient populations in the United States and Africa, demonstrating commitment to health equity in oncology research.
Strategic Positioning for Development
The appointment comes as Instil Bio focuses its clinical pipeline on novel cancer therapies, with AXN-2510 positioned as the company's primary development asset. The bispecific antibody approach targets both PD-L1 immune checkpoint and VEGF angiogenesis pathways simultaneously, representing a differentiated mechanism compared to existing monotherapy approaches in oncology.
Instil Bio operates as a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel therapies, with particular emphasis on innovative approaches to cancer treatment through its bispecific antibody platform.
