New Leadership and Promising Trials Propel ALX Oncology's Advances in Immuno-Oncology

ALX Oncology Holdings Inc., a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company, has announced the appointment of Dr. Alan Sandler to its Board of Directors, effective as of August 5, 2024. Dr. Sandler brings over three decades of experience in oncology and drug development, a valuable addition as the company advances its clinical programs.

Dr. Corey Goodman, Chairman of ALX Oncology, expressed enthusiasm about Dr. Sandler joining the Board, especially at this crucial juncture in the company's development. Dr. Goodman highlighted the importance of Dr. Sandler's expertise following the recent successful data read-out from the ASPEN-06 Phase 2 clinical trial. The trial results further validate the mechanism of action of evorpacept, ALX's lead product candidate, which is designed to block the CD47 immune checkpoint pathway. This addition is expected to aid ALX as it pushes forward with multiple late-stage clinical programs and continues to explore new therapeutic indications.

Dr. Sandler, an experienced leader in the field, shared his excitement about joining ALX Oncology's Board. He praised the team's efforts in validating evorpacept’s mechanism and clinical utility as a promising new therapy in immuno-oncology. Dr. Sandler looks forward to leveraging his extensive background in oncology clinical development to support ALX in its next phase of growth.

Before joining ALX Oncology, Dr. Sandler held several significant roles. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Mirati Therapeutics until its acquisition by Bristol Myers Squibb. Previously, he was President and Global Head of Development in Oncology at Zai Lab and held various senior roles at Genentech, part of the Roche Group. At Genentech, he was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Product Development for Oncology Solid Tumors.

In academia, Dr. Sandler has held prominent positions at several institutions. At Oregon Health and Science University, he was a Professor of Medicine and Head of the Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, as well as the Medical Lead of the Thoracic Oncology Program. He also held academic roles at Vanderbilt University and Indiana University. Dr. Sandler earned his M.D. from Rush Medical College and completed his internal medicine training and medical oncology fellowship at Yale-New Haven Medical Center. He has contributed to over 300 publications, including peer-reviewed articles, reviews, abstracts, and book chapters.

In addition to Dr. Sandler’s appointment, ALX Oncology announced the resignation of Dr. Jaume Pons and Dr. Sophia Randolph from the Board of Directors. Both are stepping down to focus more on their senior leadership roles within the company as it advances its clinical program. Dr. Pons will continue as President and Chief Scientific Officer, while Dr. Randolph will remain Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Goodman expressed gratitude for their contributions to the Board and their ongoing leadership within ALX.

ALX Oncology is committed to developing therapies to help patients combat cancer by targeting the CD47 immune checkpoint pathway. Their lead product candidate, evorpacept, shows promise in treating various hematologic and solid malignancies. The company is focused on combining evorpacept with other anti-cancer antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors to enhance its therapeutic efficacy.

The strategic appointments and resignations are part of ALX's ongoing efforts to strengthen its leadership team and advance its clinical programs, demonstrating a clear commitment to innovation and progress in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

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