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MacroGenics Names Eric Risser as New CEO, Succeeding 24-Year Leader Scott Koenig

Leadership ChangeMonoclonal AntibodyOncologyFDA Approval
  • MacroGenics appointed Eric Risser as President and CEO effective August 13, 2025, replacing Scott Koenig who led the company for 24 years.
  • Risser brings nearly 30 years of biotech experience and has generated over $1.6 billion in non-dilutive capital through corporate development efforts since joining MacroGenics in 2009.
  • The leadership transition comes as MacroGenics focuses on developing innovative monoclonal antibody-based cancer therapeutics, with three FDA-approved products already in its portfolio.
  • Risser aims to create a more focused and capital-efficient biotechnology company that delivers high-value cancer therapies to patients.

X4 Pharmaceuticals Secures $60 Million Financing and Installs New Leadership Team

Rare DiseaseLeadership Change
  • X4 Pharmaceuticals announced a $60 million private placement financing led by Coastlands Capital, Bain Capital Life Sciences, and New Enterprise Associates to support continued development of mavorixafor.
  • The company simultaneously appointed a new leadership team including Dr. Adam Craig as Executive Chairman, John Volpone as President, and David Kirske as Chief Financial Officer, all formerly of CTI BioPharma.
  • The financing will fund continued development toward potential approval of mavorixafor in chronic neutropenia, in addition to commercialization of XOLREMDI for WHIM syndrome.
  • X4's CXCR4 antagonist mavorixafor is currently undergoing a global Phase 3 clinical trial (4WARD) in chronic neutropenic disorders while being marketed as XOLREMDI in the U.S.

BioCryst Names Charlie Gayer as New CEO Following Jon Stonehouse's Retirement Announcement

Leadership ChangeRare Disease
  • BioCryst Pharmaceuticals announced that CEO Jon Stonehouse will retire on December 31, 2025, with current Chief Commercial Officer Charlie Gayer set to succeed him as president in August and CEO in January 2026.
  • Gayer led the successful commercial launch of ORLADEYO (berotralstat), the first oral prophylactic therapy for hereditary angioedema, driving exceptional revenue growth with expected peak sales of $1 billion.
  • The leadership transition comes as BioCryst has matured into a profitable company generating increasing cash resources through ORLADEYO revenue while advancing a promising pipeline of rare disease therapies.
  • Gayer brings over 10 years of experience at BioCryst and extensive rare disease commercial expertise from previous roles at Talecris Biotherapeutics, Grifols, and GlaxoSmithKline.

Granules India CEO Dr. K V Sitaram Rao Announces Resignation Effective July 2025

Leadership Change
  • Dr. Kandiraju Venkata Sitaram Rao has resigned from his position as Joint Managing Director and CEO of Granules India Limited, effective July 31, 2025.
  • The pharmaceutical executive brings over 29 years of experience in manufacturing, R&D, and business operations to his departure from the Indian generic drug manufacturer.
  • Granules India has acknowledged the resignation and is implementing measures to ensure a seamless leadership transition over the coming weeks.
  • Dr. Rao previously held senior leadership positions at PI Industries, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Jubilant Life Sciences, and Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd.

Iovance Biotherapeutics Shares Surge 14% on Amtagvi FDA Approval and New CEO Appointment

Drug ApprovalLeadership Change
  • Iovance Biotherapeutics shares surged 14.46% in pre-market trading following FDA approval of its cancer treatment Amtagvi and positive clinical trial results.
  • The company appointed Corleen Roche as new CEO, bringing extensive biotech financial management and commercial launch experience to enhance strategic direction.
  • Despite reducing guidance, Iovance projects $275 million in product revenue for 2025, primarily driven by Amtagvi sales.
  • Recent financial results showed $49.32 million in revenue with a 21.7% gross margin, though operational expenses exceeded $121 million.

CASI Pharmaceuticals Names David Cory CEO to Advance Anti-CD38 Antibody CID-103 Program

Monoclonal AntibodyLeadership Change
  • CASI Pharmaceuticals appointed industry veteran David Cory as CEO to lead the U.S. operations and focus on advancing CID-103, a potential best-in-class anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody.
  • CID-103 is currently dosing patients in a multi-center Phase 1/2 study for chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and has an IND application filed for renal allograft antibody-mediated rejection.
  • Cory brings over 30 years of biotech experience, having raised over $1 billion in capital markets and led multiple company exits totaling approximately $9 billion in acquisitions.
  • The leadership change positions CASI to concentrate resources on maximizing the therapeutic potential of CD38 targeting for organ transplant rejection and autoimmune diseases.

Champions Oncology Appoints Rob Brainin as New CEO to Drive Data Platform Expansion

Leadership ChangeDrug Discovery
  • Champions Oncology has appointed Rob Brainin as Chief Executive Officer effective August 25, 2025, succeeding Dr. Ronnie Morris who will transition to Executive Chair.
  • Brainin brings over 25 years of life sciences experience, most recently serving as Chief Business Officer at Veracyte and previously as CEO of Genuity Science.
  • The leadership change positions Champions to expand beyond core CRO services into robust data offerings and advance its discovery therapeutics subsidiary, Corellia AI.
  • Dr. Morris, who led the company since 2017, will remain actively involved in strategic initiatives while supporting the leadership transition.

Uniquity Bio Appoints Will Kane as CEO to Lead Anti-TSLP Therapy Through Phase III Development

Monoclonal AntibodyLeadership Change
  • Uniquity Bio has appointed Will Kane as President and CEO to advance solrikitug, a monoclonal antibody targeting TSLP, through completion of three Phase II trials and preparation for Phase III development.
  • Kane brings over three decades of biopharmaceutical leadership experience from companies including Anthos Therapeutics, Karuna Therapeutics, and Pfizer, succeeding co-founder Brian Lortie who stepped down in June 2025.
  • Solrikitug is currently being evaluated in separate Phase II trials for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and eosinophilic esophagitis, with the company pursuing best-in-class efficacy and convenient dosing optimization.
  • The company is also developing bispecific candidates that combine solrikitug with other inflammatory targets to enhance efficacy and broaden patient populations across immunology and inflammation indications.

Arvinas CEO John Houston Announces Retirement Following PROTAC Breakthrough Success

Leadership ChangeTargeted Therapy
  • John Houston, Ph.D., CEO and President of Arvinas, announces plans to retire from executive roles after eight years of leadership, while remaining as Board Chairperson.
  • Under Houston's leadership, Arvinas achieved multiple industry firsts for PROTAC protein degraders, including the first positive pivotal Phase 3 trial and first new drug application.
  • The company has advanced six PROTAC programs into clinical trials and demonstrated for the first time that orally administered PROTACs can achieve pharmacodynamic activity in the central nervous system.
  • Arvinas Board of Directors has initiated a search for Houston's successor to continue advancing the company's targeted protein degradation platform across multiple therapeutic areas.

Oruka Therapeutics Promotes Laura Sandler to COO as Company Advances Novel Psoriasis Pipeline

Monoclonal AntibodyLeadership Change
  • Oruka Therapeutics has promoted Laura Sandler to Chief Operating Officer, leveraging her 20+ years of biopharmaceutical experience including her role in advancing CRISPR's first approved therapy exa-cel.
  • The company is advancing two novel biologics, ORKA-001 and ORKA-002, designed to treat plaque psoriasis with dosing as infrequent as once or twice yearly.
  • Phase 1 dosing for ORKA-002, a half-life extended IL-17A/F antibody, began in May 2025 with interim data expected by year-end and Phase 2 trials planned for early 2026.
  • Oruka has secured $500 million in funding since 2024, providing substantial capital to advance its clinical programs without dilution concerns.

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