Century Therapeutics Strengthens Board with Biotech Veterans to Advance iPSC Cell Therapy Pipeline
Key Insights
Century Therapeutics appointed Dr. Han Lee and Dr. Martin Murphy to its Board of Directors to provide strategic oversight as the company advances its iPSC-derived cell therapy programs.
Dr. Lee brings extensive capital formation and corporate development experience from leadership roles at ImmPACT Bio (search), Neogene Therapeutics (search), and Arcellx.
Dr. Murphy contributes significant life science investment expertise as co-founder of Syncona Limited (search) and current board positions at multiple biotech companies.
Century Therapeutics announced the appointment of two accomplished biotechnology leaders, Dr. Han Lee and Dr. Martin Murphy, to its Board of Directors as the company advances its pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell therapies for autoimmune diseases (search) and cancer (search).
The appointments come at a critical juncture for the Philadelphia-based biotechnology company as it works to bring its lead programs, including CNTY-813 (search) as a potentially curative, off-the-shelf investigational treatment for type 1 diabetes (search), closer to patients with high-impact diseases.
Strategic Leadership Additions
Dr. Han Lee brings extensive capital formation and corporate development experience to Century's board. He most recently served as President and Chief Financial Officer of ImmPACT Bio (search), a clinical-stage biotechnology company that was acquired by Lyell Immunopharma in 2024. Prior to ImmPACT, Dr. Lee held Chief Financial Officer positions at Neogene Therapeutics (search) and Arcellx, and worked in corporate development and ventures at AstraZeneca. He holds a Ph.D. in genetics and an M.B.A. from Yale University, along with a B.A. in molecular cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Martin Murphy contributes significant life science investment and company creation expertise. He currently serves as board chair and director at several organizations, including Synairgen (search) plc, Cora Biosciences (search) Limited, and Legal & General UK Universities Ventures LP. Previously, he co-founded Syncona Limited (search) and served as Chief Executive Officer and investment committee chair of Syncona Investment Management Limited. His earlier career included roles at MVM Life Science Partners LLP, 3i Group plc, and McKinsey & Company. Dr. Murphy earned his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and an M.A. in biochemistry from the University of Oxford.
Committee Assignments and Strategic Focus
As part of their appointments, Dr. Lee will serve on the Audit and Compensation Committees, while Dr. Murphy will join the Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees.
"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Lee and Dr. Murphy to our Board at an important time for Century as we execute with discipline and focus to bring our most differentiated iPSC-derived cell therapy programs, including CNTY-813 (search) as a potentially curative, off-the-shelf investigational treatment for type 1 diabetes (search), closer to patients living with high-impact diseases," said Brent Pfeiffenberger, Pharm.D., Chief Executive Officer of Century Therapeutics.
iPSC Technology Platform
Century Therapeutics is developing a pipeline of iPSC-derived cell therapies that leverage the company's novel immune evasion engineering technology, Allo-Evasion™. The company's approach to developing off-the-shelf cell therapies is designed to expand patient access and provide advantages over existing cell therapies.
The company's therapies are derived from its iPSC cell foundry, which Century believes will ultimately advance the course of care for patients with autoimmune diseases (search) and cancer (search). The technology platform represents a potential shift toward more accessible cell therapy treatments that could address current limitations in the field.
Pfeiffenberger emphasized the value the new board members will bring: "With Dr. Lee's extensive capital formation and corporate development leadership experience and Dr. Murphy's extensive experience in life science investment, company creation and strategic oversight of successfully evolving companies across the public and private sectors, we look forward to benefitting from their combined expertise and contributions as we move with urgency to bring our lead pipeline candidates into the clinic and deliver significant value for patients and stakeholders."