|
|
|
PRESS RELEASE FOR DISTRIBUTION |
|
|
Aadi Bioscience Appoints David Dornan, PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer
Seasoned Oncology Leader Brings Extensive ADC Expertise to Support Companys New Pipeline
MORRISTOWN, NJ, February 18, 2025 Aadi Bioscience, Inc. (NASDAQ: AADI) today announced the appointment of David Dornan, PhD as the
Companys Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Dr. Dornan contributes more than two decades of experience in oncology drug discovery and development, with deep expertise in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and other targeted cancer therapies.
Davids extensive experience in ADC development and track record of translating novel oncology discoveries into clinical programs make him an
ideal leader as we seek to rapidly advance our newly in-licensed ADC portfolio, said David Lennon, PhD, President and CEO of Aadi Bioscience. We are thrilled to welcome David to our growing ADC-experienced team, which also boasts board members from leading ADC companies, Behzad Aghazedeh, former CEO and Executive Chair of Immunomedics, and recently appointed Baiteng Zhao, PhD, co-founder and former Chairman and CEO of ProfoundBio.
Dr. Dornan joins Aadi at a pivotal time as the
company implements a new strategic plan, which was first announced in December 2024, including three proposed transactions: the sale of FYARRO® and its associated infrastructure to Kaken
Pharmaceuticals for $100 million in cash; the in-licensing of a thoughtfully selected, promising portfolio of ADCs from WuXi Biologics; and a $100 million private placement financing to help
facilitate the development of these ADC assets. Aadi filed its definitive proxy statement on January 31, 2025, in connection with the Companys upcoming Special Meeting of Stockholders which is scheduled to be held on February 28,
2025. The proxy statement includes proposals on the sale of FYARRO and the financing.
The field of ADCs is undergoing a transformation and we
believe that Aadi is well-positioned to contribute with a creative tumor-targeting strategy that utilizes a next-generation linker-payload platform, said David Dornan, PhD, CSO of Aadi Bioscience. What drew me to Aadi wasnt just
its cutting-edge scienceits the unwavering commitment to translating innovation into real impact for patients. With a pipeline targeting PTK7, MUC16 and SEZ6, we have an opportunity to redefine what is possible in cancer treatment.
Im eager to collaborate with this outstanding team to accelerate the development of therapies that can truly make a difference in patients lives.
Dr. Dornan has a successful track record of shepherding drugs from discovery stage through the clinic for advanced modalities, including ADCs,
encompassing numerous Initial New Drug (IND), New Drug Application and Biologic License Application filings. Most recently, he served as CSO at Elevation Oncology where he spearheaded the companys strategic pivot toward a portfolio of ADCs,
including the in-licensing and nomination of differentiated ADC assets. As the CSO of Bolt Biotherapeutics he led the cutting-edge research and development of novel immune-stimulating ADCs and immune agonist
antibodies that led to multiple INDs and clinical trials. Previously, he was the Director and Head of Oncology Research at Gilead Sciences where he oversaw the identification, validation and translation of oncogenic targets into biologic and small
molecule therapeutics. Dr. Dornan began his industry career at Genentech where he spent a decade in roles of increasing responsibility focused on target discovery and validation efforts for numerous tumor antigen targets and ADCs, including
POLIVY® (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq), an ADC approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
1