– USA, MA – Verastem Oncology (Nasdaq: VSTM), a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing and commercializing new medicines for patients battling cancer, today announced the appointments of Dr. Paul Bunn, M.D., and Lesley Solomon to its Board of Directors, bringing to the Board strength in the areas of academic research and business innovation.
“Paul’s illustrious career dedicated to improving outcomes for cancer patients, along with his passion for clinical research, combined with Lesley’s deep experience and track record of identifying unmet needs in healthcare and building sustainable innovative companies, will be tremendous additions to the Verastem Oncology Board of Directors,” said Lead Director, Dr. Michael Kauffman.
He added: “We welcome Paul and Lesley at an exciting time as Verastem Oncology builds on recent successes, including U.S. Food and Drug Administration Breakthrough Therapy designation for the combination of VS-6766 with defactinib in recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer, and advances its overall development program in RAS mutated solid tumors to deliver better therapies to patients without adequate options.”
About Dr. Paul Bunn
Dr. Bunn, a Distinguished Professor of Medicine and James Dudley Chair in Cancer Research, Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is a world-renowned oncologist who has identified novel diagnostics and treatment strategies to improve the outcomes of patients with cancer. Ms. Solomon, a Venture Chair at Redesign Health, is an accomplished business development executive who has provided leadership and expertise to create and drive long-term revenue growth for numerous early and growth-stage life sciences and healthcare organizations.
Dr. Bunn previously served as section head of the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Navy Medical Oncology branch, Head of the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Colorado, and Director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center.
Dr. Bunn was the President, CEO, and member of the Board of Directors for the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Dr. Bunn also served as President and a member of the Board of Directors for the American Society of Clinical Oncology and has chaired the FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee. As the author of hundreds of articles and book chapters, Dr. Bunn’s research is well known in the cancer world focusing on novel therapies for lung cancer. He was also the Principal Investigator on the Specialized Program in Research Excellence in Lung Cancer grant funded by the NCI to expand understanding about the biology of the disease, as well as to find new methods of diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
He received his Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College and Doctor of Medicine from Weill Cornell Medical College. He completed an internship and residency at the University of California San Francisco and a fellowship in medical oncology at the NCI.
About Lesley Solomon
Prior to Redesign Health, a company that builds and funds transformative healthcare businesses, Lesley was the Chief Innovation Officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute where she led partnerships with pharmaceutical, biotech, and technology companies to bring forward new therapies for patients. She is also the co-founder of the Food Allergy Science Initiative which works to bring research and science together to deliver breakthroughs in treatment and transform the lives of patients.
Ms. Solomon has more than 25 years of experience as an executive in business development, strategy, and marketing at startups, early-stage and large companies such as the Food Network, Barnes & Noble.com, and Yoga Works.
She received her Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and her Bachelor of Arts in English from Cornell University.
About Verastem Oncology
Verastem Oncology is a development-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to the development and commercialization of new medicines to improve the lives of patients diagnosed with cancer. Our pipeline is focused on novel small molecule drugs that inhibit critical signaling pathways in cancer that promote cancer cell survival and tumor growth, including RAF/MEK inhibition and focal adhesion kinase inhibition.
For more information: https://www.verastem.com/
- Disclaimer - News, data, and statements included in this release are intended exclusively for general information purposes. Talent4Boards does not guarantee that news is accurate or about the correct person and accepts neither liability for the consequences of the reader’s reliance, nor responsibility for the accuracy of the information. Nothing in this release should be considered for decisions about referred securities. Products and brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.