Xilio Therapeutics appoints Cheryl R Blanchard to Board
pharmafile | April 20, 2026 | Appointment | | Xilio Therapeutics
Xilio Therapeutics has announced the appointment of Cheryl R Blanchard to the company’s board of directors. The company also announced that Christina Rossi has stepped down from its board of directors, effective April 15, 2026.
“Cheryl brings over three decades of leadership experience advancing the development of innovative products across biologics, small molecules and medical devices, and I am pleased to welcome her to the board,” said Sara Bonstein, chair of the board of directors of Xilio. “We look forward to leveraging her expertise as we advance our next generation of innovative, multi-specific I-O therapies toward the clinic. On behalf of the entire board, I would also like to thank Christy for her invaluable contributions to Xilio over the past five years.”
Blanchard added, “Xilio’s clinically-validated masking technology has the potential to transform the lives of patients by delivering highly potent, multi-specific I-O therapies that drive deep and durable clinical responses while minimising systemic toxicity. I look forward to working with the team to realise the potential of Xilio’s differentiated I-O pipeline and masking technology.”
Blanchard brings more than 30 years of leadership experience to Xilio, with deep scientific, operational and commercial leadership in life science companies. She currently serves as the executive chair of the board of directors of Anika Therapeutics and previously served as the president and chief executive officer where she led the successful implementation of a high-growth commercial strategy and advanced multiple programs through US clinical and regulatory pathways.
Prior to that, Blanchard served as the president and chief executive officer of Microchips Biotech, until its acquisition by Daré Bioscience, and as chief scientific officer at Zimmer (now Zimmer Biomet Holdings). Blanchard currently serves on the board of directors of Lumicell and Surgicure Technologies, privately-held life sciences companies.
Xilio Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing masked immuno-oncology therapies for people living with cancer.
