Biotechnology company CellCentric has strengthened its leadership team with two new appointments. The company has appointed Kris Frese as Director of Cancer Biology, and Andrew Hughes, who joins the Board as a Non-Executive Director.
Kris Frese is an experienced cancer biologist who specialises in models of cancer and biomarker analysis. Frese most recently served as an Associate Scientist at Cancer Research UK where he co-led the Cancer Biomarker Centre Preclinical Pharmacology Team.
Andrew Hughes has over 25 years’ experience in oncology and has been acting as a Chief Development Adviser to CellCentric. Hughes previously led over 50 oncology research and development programmes of novel drug candidates at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. He is also Honorary Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine at The University of Manchester and has a strong track record of executing clinical development programmes, resulting in successful product registrations.
The appointments will help CellCentric advance its orally bioavailable drug inobrodib into Phase II clinical trials in multiple indications. CellCentric is developing the drug to target a number of established but difficult to treat oncogenes.
Official comments
Kris Frese, Director of Cancer Biology of CellCentric said: “I am excited to join CellCentric at this stage of development. I have been impressed by the comprehensive research and compelling early clinical data in the treatment of different indications of cancer. I look forward to working closely with the team to maximise the potential of inobrodib to deliver improved treatments for people with cancer.”
Andrew Hughes, Chief Development Adviser and Board Member of CellCentric, added: “Inobrodib is a highly-differentiated, first-in-class compound with a novel mechanism of action. It can treat different indications of cancer, including both solid tumours and haematological cancers. My experience in executing expanding clinical development programmes, leading to successful product registrations, can help to further progress inobrodib’s development”.
Will West, Chief Executive Officer of CellCentric said: “CellCentric is entering an exciting stage as it begins to transition to Phase II clinical trials of inobrodib. Our vision is to make a real difference to the lives of people with cancer which we can only deliver with an excellent team of highly experienced, motivated people. Both Kris and Andrew have a wealth of knowledge in oncology and clinical development that will be invaluable to accelerate the further development of inobrodib in multiple specific clinical settings.”
