AnaptysBio Announces Appointment of Rita Jain, M.D., to Board of Directors
AnaptysBio, a clinical-stage biotechnology firm focusing on immunology therapeutics, has appointed Dr. Rita Jain to its Board of Directors, effective immediately, following the resignation of Laura J. Hamill. Dr. Jain brings extensive expertise in rheumatology and drug development, which is expected to enhance the board’s capabilities during a critical growth phase for the company. Dr. Jain is involved in advancing immune cell modulators for autoimmune disorders, particularly in guiding Phase 2 clinical trials targeting PD-1 and BTLA checkpoint agonists. AnaptysBio’s portfolio includes several candidates in late-stage development, indicating a strong focus on addressing unmet medical needs in autoimmune diseases.
- Appointment of Dr. Rita Jain, a leader in rheumatology, strengthens the Board's expertise.
- Dr. Jain's experience in biopharma during growth phases could provide valuable insights.
- Ongoing development of immune cell modulators with potential for significant patient impact.
- Resignation of Laura J. Hamill may lead to gaps in continuity and experience on the Board.
SAN DIEGO, April 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AnaptysBio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ANAB), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on delivering innovative immunology therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Rita Jain, M.D., to the company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. Additionally, Laura J. Hamill has decided to resign from the company’s Board of Directors.
“Rita is a recognized leader in rheumatology with extensive drug development expertise across a wide range of therapeutic areas across autoimmune and inflammatory diseases that strongly complements AnaptysBio’s Board experience,” said Daniel Faga, interim president and chief executive officer of AnaptysBio. “Importantly, Rita has been part of multiple biopharma companies at times of rapid growth and strategic transition. Her insights will be invaluable to us as we continue to focus our business on advancing immune cell modulators for people living with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.”
“I am excited to join AnaptysBio. Their portfolio of best-in-class immune cell modulating antibodies have the potential to address significantly underserved patient populations,” said Dr. Jain. “I look forward to partnering with the AnaptysBio team to deliver on multiple Phase 2 readouts across two wholly owned checkpoint agonists targeting PD-1 and BTLA, as well as to advance ANB033, a CD122 antagonist, through clinical proof-of-concept and to help guide these programs through late-stage development.”
Dr. Jain is a rheumatologist and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Provention Bio, Inc. and Celldex Therapeutics, and serves on the supervisory board of AM Pharma. She previously served on the Board of Directors of ChemoCentryx, Inc. until its acquisition by Amgen. Dr. Jain has served as executive vice president and chief medical officer of ChemoCentryx, Inc., chief medical officer of Immunovant, Inc. and prior to that, senior vice president and chief medical officer of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. Before joining Akebia, Dr. Jain was vice president of Men's and Women's Health and Metabolic Development at AbbVie, Inc. and served in various leadership roles at Abbott Laboratories, including divisional vice president. Prior to her time at Abbott, she held management positions in the Arthritis, Inflammation and Pain Group at G.D. Searle, which was acquired by Pharmacia and, later, Pfizer. She was responsible for leading the design and execution of multiple late-stage programs, including for Orilissa® and Oriahnn® and has also led programs across a diverse set of therapeutic areas, including immunology, inflammation, pain and nephrology. Earlier in her career, Dr. Jain served as a faculty member at North Shore University Hospital in New York.
Dr. Jain received her M.D. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine and her B.S. in Biology from Long Island University.
Also, Ms. Hamill has notified the company of her resignation from the company’s Board of Directors effective April 1, 2023.
Ms. Hamill joined the AnaptysBio Board of Directors in September 2019. Over this almost 4-year period, she significantly contributed to the strategic direction of the company and provided valuable business and commercial contributions. The Board of Directors and the company’s management team would like to thank Ms. Hamill for her commitment to AnaptysBio and wish her well in her future endeavors.
About AnaptysBio
AnaptysBio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on delivering innovative immunology therapeutics. It is developing immune cell modulators, including two checkpoint agonists in clinical-stage development, for autoimmune and inflammatory disease: rosnilimab, its PD-1 agonist, in a planned Phase 2b trial for the treatment of moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis; and ANB032, its BTLA agonist, in a planned Phase 2b trial for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Its preclinical immune cell modulator portfolio includes ANB033, an anti-CD122 antagonist antibody for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In addition, AnaptysBio has developed two cytokine antagonists available for out-licensing: imsidolimab, an anti-IL-36R antagonist, in Phase 3 for the treatment of generalized pustular psoriasis, or GPP, and etokimab, an anti-IL-33 antagonist for the treatment of respiratory disorders that is Phase 2/3 ready. AnaptysBio has also discovered multiple therapeutic antibodies licensed to GSK in a financial collaboration for immune-oncology, including an anti-PD-1 antagonist antibody (Jemperli (dostarlimab-gxly)), an anti-TIM-3 antagonist antibody (cobolimab, GSK4069889) and an anti-LAG-3 antagonist antibody (GSK4074386).
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to: the company’s ability to find a licensing partner for imsidolimab or etokimab and the timing of any such transaction. Statements including words such as “plan,” “continue,” “expect,” or “ongoing” and statements in the future tense are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions, which, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause the company’s actual activities or results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, including risks and uncertainties related to the company’s ability to advance its product candidates, obtain regulatory approval of and ultimately commercialize its product candidates, the timing and results of preclinical and clinical trials, the company’s ability to fund development activities and achieve development goals, the company’s ability to protect intellectual property and other risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in documents the company files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
Contact:
Nick Montemarano
Senior Director, Investor Relations and Strategic Communications
AnaptysBio, Inc.
858.732.0178
investors@anaptysbio.com
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