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NeoImmuneTech names experienced pharma exec Dr Samuel Zhang as company’s new Chief Business Officer

pharmafile | June 4, 2019 | Appointment | Business Services, Manufacturing and Production, Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing  

Maryland-based biotech NeoImmuneTech has named Dr Samuel Zhang as the company’s new Chief Business Officer (CBO).

Dr Zhang brings to the role more than 20 years’ worth of strategic leadership and drug development experience. In his new role, Dr Zhang will oversee the development of NeoImmuneTech’s lead drug candidate Hyleukin-7.

Dr Zhang explained: “Hyleukin-7 is a unique immuno-oncology agent that boosts T cells both in number and functionality, and was shown to increase the absolute lymphocyte counts in patients’ peripheral blood, a key predictor of the checkpoint inhibitor efficacy.

“In preclinical tumour models, Hyleukin-7 substantially increased tumour infiltrating lymphocytes which are crucial to conversion of an immune-cold tumour microenvironment into an immune inflamed one.”

“It has also demonstrated a number of features critical for a promising drug candidate and is well positioned to address key unmet medical needs in immuno-oncology,”

Dr Zhang will join NeoImmuneTech from Dutch biotech Merus, where he was Vice President, Product and Portfolio Strategy.

Prior to his move into the biotech space, Dr Zhang rose through the ranks of big firms taking on roles in companies including Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis Oncology and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Dr Zhang holds an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, a PhD from New York’s Columbia University, and a BSc from Peking University in Beijing.

Dr Se Hwan Yang, Chief Executive Officer of NeoImmuneTech, commented: “Dr Zhang’s expertise and experience in integrating market insight with scientific evaluation and clinical differentiation, particularly in the area of immuno-oncology, will help NeoImmuneTech advance and accelerate the development of Hyleukin-7.”  

“His knowledge and understanding of the immuno-oncology field will be crucial for NeoImmuneTech as we take the next steps to become a leader in this space.”

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