Corrixr Therapeutics Names Seagen Veteran Nancy Whiting as Board Chair Ahead of CRISPR Oncology Push
Key Insights
Corrixr Therapeutics (search) appointed Nancy Whiting, PharmD, former Seagen executive, as Chair of the Board of Directors as the company advances toward the clinic.
Whiting brings over 15 years of oncology drug development experience from Seagen, where she contributed to approvals of ADCETRIS, PADCEV, TUKYSA, and TIVDAK.
Corrixr's lead program, CXR101 (search), uses CRISPR-based gene editing delivered via lipid nanoparticles to eliminate the NRF2 (search) transcription factor in squamous cell carcinomas.
Corrixr Therapeutics (search), a pre-clinical genetic medicine company, today announced the appointment of Nancy Whiting, PharmD, as Chair of the Board of Directors, succeeding Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH. The leadership transition comes at a pivotal moment as the company advances its lead program, CXR101 (search), toward IND filing and first-in-human proof-of-mechanism trials for squamous cell carcinomas of the lung, head & neck, and esophagus.
Dr. Whiting has served as CEO of Recludix Pharma (search) for the past five years and brings an extensive track record across all phases of drug development. She spent over 15 years at Seagen, where she held roles including Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Executive Vice President of Clinical Development. During her tenure, she played a central role in the development and regulatory approval of ADCETRIS for lymphoma, PADCEV for bladder cancer, TUKYSA for breast cancer, TIVDAK for cervical cancer, and several other pipeline compounds.
"Nancy brings to the board the extensive oncology development and commercial experience Corrixr needs as it moves toward the clinic," said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, President & CEO of ChristianaCare (search). Dr. Nevin will retire from ChristianaCare effective September 1, 2026, but will remain on Corrixr's board, as will Jenn Schwartz, who will succeed her as President and CEO of ChristianaCare.
A Differentiated CRISPR Approach to Squamous Cell Cancers
Corrixr is developing CXR101 (search) to eliminate NRF2 (search), a transcription factor consistently hyperactive in squamous cell cancers, directly at its genetic source. Unlike small-molecule approaches that attempt to inhibit NRF2 protein activity, CXR101 acts upstream, disrupting the mechanism that sustains squamous cell tumor survival without the toxicity associated with systemic exposure.
The therapeutic is delivered locally via ionizable lipid nanoparticles using CRISPR-directed gene editing. According to the company, this approach collapses tumor survival, proliferation, immune evasion, and metabolic reprogramming in a single intervention.
"I'm thrilled to take on the Chair role at such a pivotal moment for the company," said Nancy Whiting, PharmD. "Having spent my career bringing transformative oncology medicines through development and into the hands of patients, I see that same potential with Corrixr."
Leadership Momentum
The board appointment follows Corrixr's recent naming of Hilary M. Malone, Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Malone brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience across multinational pharmaceutical companies and venture-backed biotech startups, with deep expertise in regulatory strategy, clinical development, and patient access.
"We now have a tremendous opportunity to bring a potentially transformative treatment to thousands of patients suffering from head & neck, lung and esophageal squamous cell cancers — indications where patients and physicians have been waiting a long time for something truly effective," Dr. Malone said.
Dr. Malone succeeds Eric B. Kmiec, Ph.D., Founder of Corrixr and Executive Director of ChristianaCare (search)'s Gene Editing Institute, who will continue as Chief Scientific Officer. ChristianaCare remains Corrixr's founding institutional investor and partner.
Prior to transitioning to the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Whiting practiced as a Clinical Oncology Pharmacist at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of British Columbia, received her PharmD from the University of Washington, and completed a residency in clinical pharmacy practice at Vancouver General Hospital. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Caribou Biosciences, Boundless Bio, and Biocom California.