Dr. Kariuki brings a wealth of experience
in ADCs, across corporate strategy, finance and
operations
Advancement of Pheon's differentiated ADC
pipeline, accelerating first program, PHN-010, into clinical
development this year
LONDON, Sept. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pheon Therapeutics
(Pheon), a leading Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) specialist
developing next generation ADCs for a wide range of hard-to-treat
cancers, today announces the appointment of accomplished biotech
executive, Enoch Kariuki, Pharm.D.,
to its Board of Directors as an independent, non-executive
director.
Dr. Kariuki possesses extensive strategic, operational, and
financial life sciences experience. He most recently served as the
Chief Executive Officer of Lengo Therapeutics, which was
acquired by Blueprint Medicines. Prior to Lengo Therapeutics, he
served as the Chief Financial Officer of VelosBio, which was
acquired by Merck, where he led all finance-related and investor
relations functions. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President,
Corporate Development at Synthorx, which was acquired by Sanofi. In
addition, Dr. Kariuki previously served as Board Director and Audit
Chair of Imago Biosciences which was acquired by Merck,
and ProfoundBio which was acquired by Genmab.
Cyrus Mozayeni, MD, Chief
Executive Officer of Pheon, said: "Dr. Kariuki joins Pheon at a
pivotal stage of growth, as we advance into clinical development
with PHN-010, our lead ADC program targeting patients with advanced
solid tumors. His decision to join Pheon's board reflects his
belief in our innovative pipeline and our team's track record in
targeted oncology therapies and ADCs. Dr. Kariuki brings a wealth
of executive leadership experience and knowledge in ADCs, which
further strengthens our board as we transition into a clinical
stage company and beyond."
Dr. Kariuki's appointment follows the completion of a
$120m Series B financing round
earlier this year to advance Pheon's three first-in-class ADC
assets through clinical proof of concept. The company's first
program, PHN-010, will enter Phase 1 clinical trials in 2024,
targeting an undisclosed novel target which is overexpressed in a
wide range of solid tumors.
Enoch Kariuki, Pharm.D., newly
appointed Board Member of Pheon, commented: "There have been
tremendous advances in the evolving field of ADCs and through my
previous experience in advising and investing in life sciences
companies, I have become familiar with Pheon's innovative work. I
am excited to contribute to Pheon's development of next generation
ADCs and to help advance these transformative therapies for the
benefit of patients in need."
Dr. Kariuki currently serves on the board of Zentalis
Pharmaceuticals and is President of Endeavor BioMedicines. Earlier
in his career, Dr. Kariuki was Vice President at H.I.G. Capital, a
private equity firm managing over $60
billion in assets, where he invested in and served on the
boards of multiple life sciences companies. His other previous
positions include Senior Associate at Leerink Partners and
Associate Director at UBS Investment Bank, where he advised
healthcare companies on equity capital financings, mergers and
acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and recapitalizations.
Dr. Kariuki completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in R&D
Strategy and Analytics at Bristol-Myers Squibb and was a Pharmacist
at CVS Caremark. He holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business
at Dartmouth College and a PharmD from
Texas Southern University.
About Pheon Therapeutics
Pheon Therapeutics is an Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC)
specialist developing a pipeline of ADCs, based on novel targets
and novel linker payloads, to treat solid tumors. Pheon's lead
program is a first-in-class ADC program against a novel target that
is highly overexpressed in solid tumors across a broad range of
hard-to-treat cancer types. Pheon is backed by expert, specialist
healthcare investors TCGX, Atlas Venture, BVF Partners, Brandon
Capital, Forbion, Lightspeed Venture Partners (Lightspeed),
Perceptive Advisors, and Research Corporation Technologies. Pheon
has a world class, proven leadership team that brings together the
best of ADC engineering, clinical and managerial expertise, and
track record. For further information, please visit
www.pheontx.com
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