Adicet Bio Appoints Dr. Blake Aftab as Vice President of Research

Rhea-AI Summary

Adicet Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACET) announced the appointment of Dr. Blake Aftab as Vice President of Research, effective April 13, 2021. Dr. Aftab will lead research efforts to advance the clinical development of ADI-001 and expand the pipeline of 'off-the-shelf' gamma delta T cell therapies. With nearly 20 years of experience in cell therapy development, Dr. Aftab aims to harness Adicet’s innovative platform for transformative patient treatments. His previous roles include significant contributions at Atara Biotherapeutics and academic research in multiple myeloma.

Positive

• Appointment of Blake Aftab as Vice President of Research could enhance research capabilities.
• Dr. Aftab's extensive experience in cell therapies may accelerate ADI-001's clinical development.

Negative

• Transition in leadership may cause initial disruptions in ongoing projects.

MENLO PARK, Calif. and BOSTON, April 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Adicet Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACET), a biotechnology company discovering and developing allogeneic gamma delta T cell therapies for cancer and other diseases, today announced the appointment of Blake Aftab, Ph.D., as Vice President of Research. Dr. Aftab will lead Adicet’s research group and will further develop existing and new opportunities for the Company’s gamma delta T cell platform.

“We are very excited to have Blake join Adicet, and lead our research team as we advance the clinical development of ADI-001 and rapidly develop a deep pipeline of “off-the-shelf” gamma delta T cell therapies,” said Stewart Abbot, Chief Scientific and Operating Officer of Adicet. “Blake has committed his career, with notable success, to researching and developing cell therapies across a variety of indications including oncology, infectious disease, and autoimmune conditions, while also building strong associations with academic and industry leaders. His expertise in the allogeneic T cell therapy landscape will further enable Adicet to advance its product candidates into the clinic and expand its pipeline of ‘off-the-shelf’ gamma delta T cell product candidates.”

“I’m delighted to join Adicet at this exciting time for the company, with ADI-001 progressing into clinical development,” said Dr. Aftab. “I believe the Company’s novel targeting approach and 'off-the-shelf' gamma delta T cell platform positions Adicet to provide potentially transformative treatment options for patients. I look forward to working with the team to translate the promise of Adicet’s science and technology platform toward medicines that improve the lives of patients suffering from solid and hematologic malignancies.”

Dr. Aftab has nearly 20 years of rich experience in academia, biotech and pharmaceutical industries developing multiple therapeutic modalities including small molecules, biologics, antibody-drug conjugates and cell therapies through all stages drug development. He joins Adicet from Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc., a publicly traded immunotherapy company, where, as Vice President and Head of Preclinical Science and Translational Medicine, he contributed to the company’s initial transition to cell therapy and led the focus on developing Allo-CAR T cell capabilities. Previously, Dr. Aftab led multiple research programs at University of California, San Francisco focused on drug discovery and clinical translation in multiple myeloma, including early research supporting targeted approaches for CD38 and other impactful targets of interest for CAR-T therapies. Dr. Aftab received his Ph.D. from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and holds a B.Sc. in Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, from The University of California, Santa Barbara.

About Adicet Bio, Inc.

Adicet Bio, Inc. is a biotechnology company discovering and developing allogeneic gamma delta T cell therapies for cancer and other diseases. Adicet is advancing a pipeline of "off-the-shelf" gamma delta T cells, engineered with chimeric antigen receptors and T cell receptor-like antibodies to enhance selective tumor targeting, facilitate innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune response, and improve persistence for durable activity in patients. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.adicetbio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" of Adicet within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to business and operations of Adicet including, but not limited to Adicet's advancement of ADI-001 for the treatment of B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, including future plans or expectations as well as the expected potential therapeutic effects, Adicet’s growth as a company and the anticipated contribution of its executives to Adicet’s operations and progress, and expectations regarding its other CAR gamma delta T cell therapy development activities.

Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs of future events, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the effect of COVID-19 on our business and financial results, including with respect to disruptions to our clinical trials, business operations, and ability to raise additional capital; Adicet's ability to execute on its strategy; that positive results from a clinical study may not necessarily be predictive of the results of future or ongoing clinical studies; Adicet’s ability to discover and develop additional product candidates; future clinical studies may fail to demonstrate adequate safety and efficacy of our product candidates, which would prevent, delay, or limit the scope of regulatory approval and commercialization; regulatory approval processes of the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities are lengthy, time–consuming, and inherently unpredictable; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; and the company's estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, and capital requirements. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Adicet's actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Adicet's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K filed with the SEC, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Adicet's other filings with the SEC. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Adicet undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law.

Adicet Bio., Inc.
Investor and Media Contacts
Anne Bowdidge
abowdidge@adicetbio.com

Janhavi Mohite
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
212-362-1200
janhavi.mohite@sternir.com

FAQ

Who is Blake Aftab and what is his role at Adicet Bio, Inc.?

Blake Aftab is appointed as Vice President of Research at Adicet Bio, Inc. to lead the research group and develop gamma delta T cell therapies.

What is the significance of ADI-001 for Adicet Bio, Inc.?

ADI-001 is a key product candidate for Adicet, currently advancing into clinical development, which could significantly impact its business.

How might Dr. Aftab's appointment impact Adicet Bio, Inc.'s pipeline?

Dr. Aftab's expertise in cell therapies is expected to enhance the development of Adicet's pipeline of 'off-the-shelf' gamma delta T cell therapies.

What experience does Dr. Aftab bring to Adicet Bio, Inc.?

Dr. Aftab has nearly 20 years of experience in academia and biotech, specifically in developing cell therapies across various indications.

What challenges might arise from the management change at Adicet Bio, Inc.?

A leadership transition could lead to initial disruptions in project continuity and team dynamics.