Medicenna Strengthens Board of Directors with Appointment of Karim Lalji
Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. (TSX: MDNA, OTCQB: MDNAF) has appointed Karim Lalji to its Board of Directors, effective August 14, 2024. Mr. Lalji brings extensive experience in the life sciences sector, including strategic vision and big-pharma partnership expertise. His career highlights include:
- 10 years at Merck & Company, leading global strategies and growing annual sales to over $1 billion
- Vice President role at Sepracor, Inc., contributing to growth from $50 million to over $1 billion in annual sales
- Chief Commercial Officer at Cardiome Pharma Corp., facilitating a $1 billion licensing deal with Merck
Mr. Lalji's appointment is expected to strengthen Medicenna's position in advancing its Superkine platform and pipeline of clinical assets, including MDNA11 for advanced solid tumors and bizaxofusp for brain cancer.
Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. (TSX: MDNA, OTCQB: MDNAF) ha nominato Karim Lalji nel suo Consiglio di Amministrazione, con efficacia dal 14 agosto 2024. Il signor Lalji porta una vasta esperienza nel settore delle scienze della vita, inclusa una visione strategica e competenze nelle partnership con grandi aziende farmaceutiche. I punti salienti della sua carriera includono:
- 10 anni presso Merck & Company, guidando strategie globali e aumentando le vendite annuali a oltre 1 miliardo di dollari
- Ruolo di Vicepresidente presso Sepracor, Inc., contribuendo alla crescita da 50 milioni a oltre 1 miliardo di dollari in vendite annuali
- Chief Commercial Officer presso Cardiome Pharma Corp., facilitando un accordo di licenza da 1 miliardo di dollari con Merck
Ci si aspetta che la nomina del signor Lalji rafforzi la posizione di Medicenna nell'avanzamento della sua piattaforma Superkine e del pipeline di asset clinici, inclusi MDNA11 per tumori solidi avanzati e bizaxofusp per il cancro al cervello.
Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. (TSX: MDNA, OTCQB: MDNAF) ha designado a Karim Lalji en su Junta Directiva, con efecto a partir del 14 de agosto de 2024. El Sr. Lalji aporta una amplia experiencia en el sector de las ciencias de la vida, incluyendo visión estratégica y experiencia en asociaciones con grandes farmacéuticas. Los aspectos más destacados de su carrera incluyen:
- 10 años en Merck & Company, liderando estrategias globales y aumentando las ventas anuales a más de 1 mil millones de dólares
- Rol como Vicepresidente en Sepracor, Inc., contribuyendo al crecimiento de 50 millones a más de 1 mil millones en ventas anuales
- Chief Commercial Officer en Cardiome Pharma Corp., facilitando un acuerdo de licencia por 1 mil millones de dólares con Merck
Se espera que el nombramiento del Sr. Lalji fortalezca la posición de Medicenna en el avance de su plataforma Superkine y cartera de activos clínicos, incluyendo MDNA11 para tumores sólidos avanzados y bizaxofusp para el cáncer cerebral.
메디센나 테라퓨틱스 주식회사(MDNA, OTCQB: MDNAF)는 카림 랄지를 이사회에 임명했다, 2024년 8월 14일부터 효력이 발생한다. 랄지 씨는 생명 과학 분야에서 폭넓은 경험을 쌓아왔으며, 전략적 비전과 대형 제약사와의 협력 전문성을 포함한다. 그의 경력 하이라이트에는 다음이 포함된다:
- 머크 & 컴퍼니에서 10년 근무하며 글로벌 전략을 이끌고 연간 매출을 10억 달러 이상으로 성장시킴
- 세프라코르, Inc.에서 부사장 역할을 맡으며 5천만 달러에서 연간 매출 10억 달러 이상으로 성장 기여
- 카르디오미 제약 주식회사에서 최고 상업 책임자로서 머크와 10억 달러 규모의 라이선스 계약을 촉진함
랄지 씨의 임명은 메디센나가 슈퍼키네 플랫폼과 임상 자산 파이프라인을 발전시키는 데 강력한 역할을 할 것으로 기대된다. 여기에는 고급 고형 종양을 위한 MDNA11과 뇌암을 위한 비자조프스프가 포함된다.
Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. (TSX: MDNA, OTCQB: MDNAF) a nommé Karim Lalji au sein de son Conseil d'Administration, avec effet au 14 août 2024. M. Lalji apporte une vaste expérience dans le secteur des sciences de la vie, y compris une vision stratégique et une expertise en partenariats avec les grandes entreprises pharmaceutiques. Les faits marquants de sa carrière incluent :
- 10 ans chez Merck & Company, où il a dirigé des stratégies mondiales et augmenté les ventes annuelles à plus de 1 milliard de dollars
- Rôle de vice-président chez Sepracor, Inc., contribuant à la croissance passant de 50 millions à plus de 1 milliard de dollars en ventes annuelles
- Chief Commercial Officer chez Cardiome Pharma Corp., facilitant un accord de licence de 1 milliard de dollars avec Merck
La nomination de M. Lalji devrait renforcer la position de Medicenna dans l'avancement de sa plateforme Superkine et de son portefeuille d'actifs cliniques, y compris MDNA11 pour les tumeurs solides avancées et bizaxofusp pour le cancer du cerveau.
Die Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. (TSX: MDNA, OTCQB: MDNAF) hat Karim Lalji in ihren Vorstand berufen, wirksam ab dem 14. August 2024. Herr Lalji bringt umfassende Erfahrung im Bereich der Lebenswissenschaften mit, einschließlich strategischer Vision und Fachkenntnissen in Partnerschaften mit großen Pharmakonzernen. Zu den Höhepunkten seiner Karriere gehören:
- 10 Jahre bei Merck & Company, wo er globale Strategien leitete und die jährlichen Verkaufszahlen auf über 1 Milliarde US-Dollar steigerte
- Rolle als Vizepräsident bei Sepracor, Inc., wo er zum Wachstum von 50 Millionen auf über 1 Milliarde US-Dollar in Jahresverkäufen beitrug
- Chief Commercial Officer bei Cardiome Pharma Corp., der einen Lizenzvertrag über 1 Milliarde US-Dollar mit Merck ermöglichte
Die Ernennung von Herrn Lalji wird voraussichtlich die Position von Medicenna bei der Weiterentwicklung ihrer Superkine-Plattform und Pipeline klinischer Assets stärken, einschließlich MDNA11 für fortgeschrittene solide Tumore und bizaxofusp für Gehirntumoren.
- Appointment of Karim Lalji, an experienced executive in the life sciences sector, to the Board of Directors
- Lalji's expertise in big-pharma partnerships and strategic vision could benefit Medicenna's growth
- Recent positive data from Phase 1/2 ABILITY-1 Study for MDNA11 in treating advanced solid tumors
- Compelling Phase 2b results for bizaxofusp in brain cancer
- None.
TORONTO and HOUSTON, Aug. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medicenna Therapeutics Corp. (“Medicenna” or the “Company”) (TSX: MDNA, OTCQB: MDNAF), a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on the development of Superkines, announced today the appointment of Mr. Karim Lalji as a new addition to its Board of Directors effective as of August 14, 2024.
“We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Mr. Karim Lalji as a new member to our Board of Directors,” said Dr. Fahar Merchant, President and CEO of Medicenna. “With a distinguished career spanning the life sciences sector, Mr. Lalji brings to our Board of Directors his exceptional transactional expertise, strategic vision and a solid track record of big-pharma partnerships that will be invaluable to Medicenna as it builds its Superkine platform and pipeline of promising best and first-in-class clinical assets.”
Mr. Lalji added, “I'm honoured and excited to join Medicenna's Board of Directors. The recent data from the Phase 1/2 ABILITY-1 Study highlights the best-in-class potential of MDNA11 in treating advanced solid tumors. Combined with the compelling Phase 2b results for bizaxofusp in brain cancer, a versatile Superkine platform, and a highly capable management team, Medicenna is well-positioned for continued success in advancing its immune-based therapies for cancer and other diseases by ingeniously modulating the immune system.”
Mr. Lalji began his career with Merck & Company at their world headquarters in New Jersey. During his 10-year tenure at Merck, he held several positions of increasing responsibilities, eventually driving global strategies for several of the company’s therapeutic franchises including the global executive leading the osteoporosis franchise and growing annual sales of its lead program to over
Mr. Lalji joins Medicenna’s Board of Directors with broad governance experience, having served as Chairman of the Board for the oncology-focused Sitka Biopharma, and as Board Member of AccelRX and the Centre for Drug Research and Development (now known as adMare BioInnovations). Additionally, he served on the Board of Overseers of Harvard University’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a leading academic teaching hospital, where he continues as a Board Member Emeritus and is a member of its Research Oversight Committee. Currently, Mr. Lalji is the CEO of Microbion Pharma Corp., a privately held clinical-stage pharmaceutical company. Karim holds a BBA from Simon Fraser University and a Science Master’s Degree in Health Policy and Management from Harvard University, where he was awarded the Wilinsky Award for Academic Excellence.
About Medicenna Therapeutics
Medicenna is a clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on developing novel, highly selective versions of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-13 Superkines and first-in-class Empowered Superkines. Medicenna’s long-acting IL-2 Superkine, MDNA11, is a next-generation IL-2 with superior affinity toward CD122 (IL-2 receptor beta) and no CD25 (IL-2 receptor alpha) binding, thereby preferentially stimulating cancer-killing effector T cells and NK cells. Medicenna’s IL-4 Empowered Superkine, bizaxofusp (formerly MDNA55), has been studied in 5 clinical trials enrolling over 130 patients, including a Phase 2b trial for recurrent GBM, the most common and uniformly fatal form of brain cancer. Bizaxofusp has obtained FastTrack and Orphan Drug status from the FDA and FDA/EMA, respectively. Medicenna’s early-stage BiSKITs™ (Bifunctional SuperKine ImmunoTherapies) and the T-MASK™ (Targeted Metalloprotease Activated SuperKine) programs are designed to enhance the ability of Superkines to treat immunologically “cold” tumors.
For more information, please visit www.medicenna.com, and follow us on X and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding the future operations of the Company, estimates, plans, strategic ambitions, partnership activities and opportunities, objectives, expectations, opinions, forecasts, projections, guidance, outlook or other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as “will”, “may”, “should”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “believe”, “seek”, “potentially” and similar expressions. and are subject to risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include the risks detailed in the latest annual information form of the Company and in other filings made by the Company with the applicable securities regulators from time to time in Canada.
The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and except as required by law, we do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements.
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Investor/Media Contact:
Christina Cameron
Investor Relations, Medicenna Therapeutics
(647) 953-0673
ir@medicenna.com
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