– USA, MA – Ikena Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: IKNA), a targeted oncology company focused on developing cancer therapies targeting key signaling pathways that drive the formation and spread of cancer, today announced the appointment of Dr. Maria Koehler, M.D., Ph.D. to its Board of Directors.
Dr. Koehler is a board-certified hematologist and oncologist with more than 20 years of pharmaceutical and biotech oncology experience in clinical development, including senior roles at Pfizer where she led the development of Ibrance and contributed to the strategic direction of the oncology portfolio.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Maria to our Board of Directors at this important next stage of Ikena’s evolution,” said CEO, Mark Manfredi. “Maria is a highly accomplished biopharmaceutical veteran. During her distinguished career, she has led the development of numerous oncology drugs from early- to late-stage clinical investigation, through to commercialization. Her leadership and strategic expertise will be invaluable as we advance IK-930, our lead targeted oncology candidate, into clinical development, followed thereafter by our other pipeline programs targeting cancers with high unmet need.”
About Dr. Maria Koehler
Dr. Koehler brings deep experience in both early drug development and bringing new drugs to global markets, having developed strategies for product candidates at all stages of development. Dr. Koehler currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Repare Therapeutics (NASDAQ: RPTX), where she leads clinical strategy and oversees all operations. Dr. Koehler joined Repare from Bicycle Therapeutics (NASDAQ: BCYC) where she was Chief Medical Officer. Before Bicycle, she was Vice President of Strategy, Innovation, and Collaborations for the Oncology Business Unit at Pfizer. Before Pfizer, she served in leadership roles at GlaxoSmithKline and AstraZeneca. She is board certified in hematology and oncology. She began her career as a practicing physician and served as the clinical director of Bone Marrow Transplantation at University Hospital in Pittsburgh as well as the director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Program and associate professor at St. Christopher’s Hospital in Philadelphia.
“It is a privilege to join Ikena’s Board of Directors during such an exciting period of growth following the Company’s recent IPO, and as Ikena advances IK-930 towards clinical development during the second half of 2021,” said Dr. Koehler. “I look forward to working alongside Ikena’s current Board members and executive management to advance Ikena’s innovative drug candidates through clinical development and toward commercialization where they can truly benefit patients.”
Dr. Koehler received her M.D. and Ph.D. from the Silesian Medical School in Poland and has co-authored over 150 publications, book chapters, and patents.
About Ikena Oncology
Ikena Oncology is a targeted oncology company focused on developing cancer therapies targeting key signaling pathways that drive the formation and spread of cancer. Ikena is advancing five programs that include four product candidates in either clinical development or IND-enabling studies: IK-930, a TEAD inhibitor targeting the Hippo signaling pathway; an ERK5 inhibitor program targeting the KRAS signaling pathway; IK-175, an AHR antagonist; IK-412, a kynurenine-degrading enzyme; and IK-007, an EP4 receptor antagonist. Ikena has entered into a global strategic collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company for its IK-175 and IK-412 programs.
For more information: https://ikenaoncology.com/
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