– SWITZERLAND, Lausanne – ADC Therapeutics (ADCT), the oncology drug development company focused on Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) targeting major cancers, today announced that Dr Hans-Peter Wild and Jacques Theurillat have been appointed to its Board of Directors as Non-Executive Directors. The appointments follow ADCT’s recent $80m financing and further strengthens ADCT’s board as it matures as a Company.
Dr Wild is the owner and Chairman of the Wild Group and has built multiple global businesses, including Wild Flavours GmbH; one of the world’s leading producers and suppliers of natural ingredients for the food and drink industry, a global consumer goods business under the CapriSun® brand, and a processing units manufacturer for the food and drink industry. Dr Wild has an Honours degree in Law from the University of Heidelberg and gained his doctorate from the Faculty of Law at the University of Mannheim. He also holds a Master in Business Administration from the University of Mannheim and is an Honorary Senator of the University of Heidelberg.
As an independent Non Executive Director, Mr Theurillat brings to the Board extensive experience in strategy development, finance and commercial operations. He has been CEO of Ares Life Sciences AG and previously served as CEO and Chairman of Albea Pharmaceuticals AG. He also had an extensive career at Serono, which spanned roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Senior Executive Vice President, Strategic Corporate Development. Mr Theurillat holds Bachelor of Law Degrees from Madrid University and Geneva University, a Master’s Degree in Finance from Centro Estudios Financieros, Madrid and a Swiss Federal Tax Expert Diploma.
Dr Chris Martin, CEO of ADCT, said: “We have made rapid progress since our formation just three years ago and, as we invest in the development of our significant pipeline of ADC therapeutics, it is important that we expand our board to help steer the Company forwards. Jacques and Hans-Peter bring very considerable experience to the board and we welcome their strategic insight, and commercial and financial experience.”
Dr Martin joined the Company full time as its CEO in June, having played a key role in the Company’s formation and strategy as a member of its Board of Directors since the Company’s founding in 2012. Previously Dr. Martin served as CEO of Spirogen and was a member of MedImmune’s Leadership Team.
The other members of the Board of ADC Therapeutics are: Dr. Peter B. Corr (Chairman), Stephen Evans-Freke, Michael Forer (Messrs. Corr, Evans-Freke, and Forer of founding investor Auven Therapeutics), Dr Bahija Jallal (Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca and head of MedImmune), and independent Non-Executive Director Dr Barrie Ward (former CEO of Kudos).
About ADC Therapeutics
ADC Therapeutics Sarl (ADCT) is an oncology drug development company that specializes in the development of proprietary Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs) targeting major solid and hematological cancers. The Company’s ADCs are highly targeted drug constructs which combine monoclonal antibodies specific to surface antigens on particular tumor cells with a novel class of highly potent pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD)-based warheads. The Company has access to warhead and linker chemistries via agreements with Spirogen (a wholly-owned subsidiary of AstraZeneca’s MedImmune). It is progressing eleven ADC programs, two of these under a joint development agreement with MedImmune. Its lead program, ADCT-301 for lymphoma entered Phase I in mid 2015.
ADCT was established in 2012 by private equity firm Auven Therapeutics. In 2013, AstraZeneca acquired an equity stake in the Company and entered into a corporate partnership for two ADC programs. It is located in Lausanne, Switzerland, and utilizes laboratory facilities at Queen Mary Bioenterprises Innovation Centre, London, UK. ADCT has manufacturing and clinical studies managed from its US offices in San Francisco and New Jersey.
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