Lyell Immunopharma Appoints Gary Lee, Ph.D. as Chief Scientific Officer
Lyell Immunopharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: LYEL) has appointed Gary Lee, Ph.D., as its new Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Lee brings over a decade of experience in translational cell and gene therapy, aiming to advance the company’s research pipeline. This strategic move reflects Lyell's commitment to developing a multi-modality cell therapy pipeline using its innovative T-cell reprogramming technologies. Concurrently, Nick Restifo will transition to a scientific advisor role, continuing to support the company's programs.
- Appointment of Gary Lee as Chief Scientific Officer may enhance research strategy and pipeline development.
- Dr. Lee's extensive experience in translational cell therapy is expected to strengthen Lyell's leadership.
- Transition of Nick Restifo to a scientific advisor role raises concerns about continuity in leadership.
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lyell Immunopharma, Inc., (Nasdaq: LYEL), a T-cell reprogramming company dedicated to the mastery of T cells to cure patients with solid tumors, today announced the appointment of Gary Lee, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer. A veteran biotech leader with more than a decade of experience heading translational cell and gene therapy programs, Dr. Lee will set and oversee the company’s research strategy and advance its research pipeline.
“We are thrilled to welcome Gary and his scientific expertise in translational cell therapy to the Lyell team,” said Liz Homans, Chief Executive Officer of Lyell. “Beyond his exceptional scientific talent, Gary brings tremendous leadership and strategic planning capabilities to our team. As we become a clinical-stage company, his appointment reflects our deeply held commitment to advancing a multi-modality cell therapy pipeline based on our novel next-generation T-cell reprogramming technologies.”
“I’m excited to join the dynamic Lyell team and look forward to furthering the goal of delivering better therapeutic options for patients with solid tumors by advancing what I believe is one of the most promising pipelines in the industry,” said Dr. Lee. “Lyell is unique in many respects, including a robust pipeline of CAR, TIL and TCR product candidates that incorporate novel reprogramming technologies designed to overcome T-cell exhaustion and promote durable stemness. I look forward to working with this team of industry-leading experts in oncology and cell therapy drug development.”
Before joining Lyell, Dr. Lee served as Chief Scientific Officer at Senti Bio. Prior to that he held scientific and leadership positions of increasing responsibility at Sangamo Therapeutics. As Sangamo’s Vice President of Cell Therapy, Dr. Lee led the company’s T-cell engineering programs. Dr. Lee holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.S. in chemical engineering from the California Institute of Technology.
Lyell also announced today that Dr. Nick Restifo, Executive Vice President, Research, will transition to a role as scientific advisor effective February 15, 2022. Dr. Restifo will continue to provide scientific insight on Lyell’s programs and research pipeline, with a particular focus on its Epi-R™ and Rejuvenation platforms.
“Being a part of Lyell’s growth has been a rewarding professional opportunity,” said Dr. Restifo. “With an exceptional research organization firmly established, I look forward to working with Gary, continuing my close relationship with the team, and contributing to the future success of Lyell in my new role.”
“We are delighted to welcome a scientist of Gary’s caliber and deep industry experience to Lyell,” said Rick Klausner, MD, Chair of Lyell's Board of Directors. “His experience leading translational research of next generation cell therapies is particularly relevant as we enter our next stage of growth and on behalf of the Board of Directors, we welcome this key addition to our executive team. We also extend our gratitude to Nick for his innovative scientific contributions and look forward to continuing to benefit from his expertise as he transitions into a scientific advisory role.”
About Lyell Immunopharma, Inc.
Lyell is a T-cell reprogramming company dedicated to the mastery of T cells to cure patients with solid tumors. The Company focuses on addressing what it believes are the primary barriers that limit consistent, reliable, and curative responses to adoptive T-cell therapy: T-cell exhaustion and lack of durable stemness, which includes proliferative capacity and the ability to self-renew, differentiate and eliminate solid tumors. Lyell is applying its proprietary ex vivo genetic and epigenetic reprogramming technology platforms, Gen-R and Epi-R, to address these barriers in order to develop new medicines with improved, durable, and potentially curative clinical outcomes. Lyell is based in South San Francisco, California and Seattle and Bothell, Washington. To learn more, please visit www.Lyell.com.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements expressed or implied in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: Lyell’s vision of delivering better therapeutic options for patients with solid tumors; Dr. Lee’s belief that Lyell is advancing one of the most promising pipelines in the industry; the potential for Lyell’s reprogramming technologies to overcome T-cell exhaustion and promote durable stemness; the therapeutic potential of Lyell’s product candidates; the anticipated benefits of a growing research team; and other statements that are not historical fact. These statements are based on Lyell’s current plans, objectives, estimates, expectations and intentions, are not guarantees of future performance and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: the effects of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic; Lyell’s ability to submit planned INDs on the anticipated timing or at all; initiation of planned clinical trials and enrollment of patients in its future clinical trials; Lyell’s ability to manufacture and supply its product candidates for its future clinical trials; the preclinical profiles of Lyell’s product candidates not translating in clinical trials; the potential for results from clinical trials to differ from preclinical, early clinical, preliminary or expected results; significant adverse events, toxicities or other undesirable side effects associated with Lyell’s product candidates; the potential for our product candidates to fail to demonstrate sufficient efficacy; the significant uncertainty associated with Lyell’s product candidates ever receiving any regulatory approvals; Lyell’s ability to obtain, maintain, or protect intellectual property rights related to its product candidates; implementation of Lyell’s strategic plans for its business and product candidates; the sufficiency of Lyell’s capital resources and need for additional capital to achieve its goals; and other risks, including those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in Lyell’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 and Lyell’s future reports to be filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of this date, and Lyell undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
Contact:
Ellen Rose
Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations
erose@lyell.com
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