ALX Oncology Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXO) announced the appointment of Dr. Barbara Klencke as Interim Chief Medical Officer, effective immediately. Dr. Klencke replaces Dr. Alan Sandler, who resigned from the CMO position and will return to his role as a Director on the company's Board of Directors.
Leadership Transition Aims to Accelerate Pipeline Development
The clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in cancer therapies made the strategic appointment to advance its pipeline of novel therapies designed to treat cancer and extend patients' lives. Dr. Klencke will step down from her position on ALX Oncology's Board of Directors, where she has served since January 2025, to take on the full-time interim CMO role.
"Dr. Barbara Klencke's extensive expertise in driving cancer innovation is evidenced by her substantial contributions to the development and approval of numerous first-in-class therapies," said Jason Lettmann, CEO of ALX Oncology. "Her immediate availability and deep R&D expertise position her well to lead the execution of our Company's near and longer-term milestones."
Extensive Oncology Experience Across Industry Leaders
Dr. Klencke brings more than 30 years of experience in patient care, academic and scientific research, and clinical drug development in hematology and oncology. She has held various executive leadership roles at biotech companies including Sierra Oncology, which was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in 2022, Onyx Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Amgen), and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.
Prior to entering the biotechnology industry, Dr. Klencke served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, at the University of California, San Francisco, where she completed her training in hematology, oncology and internal medicine. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana University and an M.D. from the University of California, Davis.
Focus on Advancing Key Pipeline Assets
As Interim CMO, Dr. Klencke will oversee the development of ALX Oncology's two primary clinical programs. The company's lead therapeutic candidate, evorpacept, has demonstrated potential to serve as a cornerstone therapy in immuno-oncology and is currently being evaluated across multiple clinical trials for various cancer indications.
ALX2004, the company's second pipeline candidate, is a novel EGFR-targeted antibody-drug conjugate with a differentiated mechanism of action that entered Phase 1 trials in August 2025.
"As a member of ALX Oncology's Board, I've witnessed firsthand the remarkable progress across both the evorpacept and ALX2004 clinical programs," said Dr. Klencke. "As I step into my new role as Interim CMO, I look forward to working alongside this experienced leadership team as they continue the development of their highly differentiated CD47 blocker and novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC)."
Strategic Positioning for Clinical Milestones
The leadership change positions ALX Oncology to implement its focused development strategy across both clinical programs. Dr. Klencke's track record includes serving as CMO of Sierra Oncology from 2015 through its acquisition by GSK, demonstrating her experience with early-stage companies through significant corporate milestones.
In addition to her role at ALX Oncology, Dr. Klencke serves as an independent board director of Xencor and TScan Therapeutics, further highlighting her expertise in the oncology sector.
