DSM Biomedical, Inc.

None  Welcome to this week's Chutes & Ladders, our roundup of hirings, firings and retirings throughout the industry. Please send the good word—or the bad—from your shop to Max Bayer or Gabrielle Masson, and we will feature it here at the end of each week.  BIO lands rare disease advocate John Crowley as CEO Biotechnology Innovation Organization For more than a year, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) has been led by interim CEO Rachel King. Now, the organization has named a permanent successor.  Rare disease advocate, biotech founder and BIO board member John Crowley is set to take the top spot starting March 4. Crowley is probably best known for his entrepreneurship in the industry after his two youngest children were diagnosed with Pompe disease, a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder. He co-founded Novazyme Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Genzyme) and served as a founding leader for Orexigen Therapeutics and Amicus Therapeutics, where he served as CEO from 2005-2022. Crowley currently serves as Amicus’ executive chair and will stay in that role until March.  The military veteran’s search for a Pompe disease treatment was documented in the 2010 movie Extraordinary Measures, directed by Harrison Ford. Crowley will take the reins of the advocacy organization as the industry continues to brace itself against potential implications of the IRA and challenging market conditions. Release  Cyclerion Therapeutics picks former EQRx leader as new CEO  Cyclerion Therapeutics Regina Graul, Ph.D., has found a new role at the top of Cyclerion Therapeutics, replacing outgoing founding CEO Peter Hecht, Ph.D. It’s a return to home for the executive, who previously led development of Cylcerion’s olinciguat program for cardiovascular disease. Graul comes from EQRx, a biotech that had attempted to make low-cost oncology drugs but ultimately shut down earlier this year. There, Graul served as a program executive overseeing cross-functional development teams in oncology. Graul will have a challenging job in front of her. Cyclerion has been through a tough few years, shifting clinical plans twice in 2022. “As we evaluate our existing assets and identify external value-creating opportunities, cutting-edge innovation and addressing unmet patient needs will be central tenets,” Graul said in a statement. The new CEO is effective immediately. However, Hecht will continue as a strategic consultant and board director. Release Sensorium selects new CEO Sensorium Therapeutics Psychoactive medicine-focused Sensorium has selected Alexandra (Sandra) Glucksmann, Ph.D., to helm the biotech as former CEO and co-founder Dick Simon transitions to an advisory role.  Simon held the role since helping launch the nature-inspired platform company in 2021. New CEO Glucksmann has more than 30 years of industry experience, most recently serving as founding CEO and president of oncology company Cedilla Therapeutics. She also served as the founding chief operating officer for gene editing company Editas Medicine and currently holds board spots at REGENXBIO and Scenic Biotech. Release  > Three years on, Bristol Myers Squibb is bidding adieu to its top dealmaker. Elizabeth Mily, who replaced BMS’ former M&A czar Paul Biondi back in 2020, is headed for the exit after joining the pharma company in spring of 2020 from Barclays. Her departure has prompted BMS to launch a search for a replacement, with the company's spokesperson noting that "strategy and business development is critical to our business strategy." Fierce Pharma > Bob Smith has left Merck & Co. for Gossamer Bio, where he will serve as chief commercial officer. Smith most recently led Merck’s sotatercept pre-launch activities in the U.S. as the national sales lead, and previously led U.S. sales operations for Actelion. Release > Ophthalmic biotech SpyGlass Pharma has selected Margot Goodkin, M.D., Ph.D., to serve as chief medical officer. Before SpyGlass, Goodkin was executive director of ophthalmology clinical development at Allergan/AbbVie and also previously worked at the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiologic Health. Release > Kling Bio has tapped Stefano Gullà, Ph.D., to serve as chief scientific officer. Before joining Kling, Gullà has held senior roles at Pfizer, Agenus, Flagship and RVAC. Release > As part of a layoff round, Theseus Pharmaceuticals has sent CEO and President Timothy Clackson, Ph.D., and Chief Medical Officer David Kerstein, M.D., packing. Release > Zenas BioPharma is welcoming Jennifer Fox on as chief business officer and chief financial officer, as well as Tanya Fischer, M.D., Ph.D., as head of R&D and chief medical officer. Before Zenas, Fox served as Nuvation Bio’s chief financial officer, while Fischer served as Biohaven’s chief development officer and head of translational medicine. Release > Catalyst Pharmaceuticals has appointed Michael Kalb—who most recently served Impel Pharmaceutical’s chief financial officer, as its EVP and CFO—as current CFO Alicia Grande retires at the end of the year after a 16-year tenure with the company. Catalyst is also promoting Steven Miller, Ph.D., to EVP, chief operating and scientific officer, while Jeffrey Del Carmen has been promoted to EVP and chief commercial officer. Release > Alentis Therapeutics has appointed Rizwan Velji to serve as chief business officer. He joins the Swiss biotech from William Blair, where he most recently served as managing director. Release > While Hepion Pharmaceuticals’ board has approved a plan designed to slash operating costs by 60%, CEO Robert Foster, Ph.D., has resigned, citing personal reasons. Chief Financial Officer John Cavan has stepped up and will lead the biotech as interim CEO. Fierce Biotech > ARTBIO has closed a $90 million series A round and hired a handful of new executives. Philippe Dasse, Ph.D., previously head of technical operations for radioligand therapies at Novartis, will be the chief technical officer, while Daniel Rossett will be SVP and head of supply chain and external manufacturing. Rossett was global head of supply chain at Novartis’ radiopharma unit, Advanced Accelerator Applications. Fierce Biotech > Empress Therapeutics has chosen Virginia Finnerty-Brooks to serve as the biotech’s chief business officer. Finnerty-Brooks holds more than 25 years of industry experience, holding roles across Adanate, Eli Lilly’s Dermira, DSM Biomedical, Cellastra, Precigen, FibroGen and EPL Technologies. Release

Appointment adds extensive corporate development and operational experience to Empress leadership team CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Empress Therapeutics, a company accelerating small molecule drug generation through novel insights linking genes to chemistry, today announced that Virginia Finnerty-Brooks has been appointed Chief Business Officer (CBO). With more than 25 years of corporate development and operational experience, Ms. Finnerty-Brooks will work closely with the Empress leadership team and board to drive corporate development, including industry partnerships, academic research collaborations, and operational excellence. “Virginia has repeatedly created and delivered value-generating business opportunities at companies big and small in multiple categories over the course of her career,” said Jason Park, Ph.D., Co-Founder and CEO of Empress. “We are delighted to have her join the team at this opportune time as our Chemilogics platform continues to produce novel small molecule drug leads in a wide variety of potential indications, and we progress the most promising programs toward the clinic.” “The Empress platform has the potential to deliver meaningful novel small molecule drugs across a range of therapeutic indications with an initial focus in immune and inflammatory diseases and additional efforts underway in oncology, metabolic disorders and other opportunities,” said Ms. Finnerty-Brooks. “The team have made significant progress moving a number of promising molecules forward in the immune and inflammatory category and, given the power of the platform and the breadth of potential applications, Empress represents an exciting opportunity to build and grow the business via internally driven approaches and a range of partnerships. I am excited to join the team, contribute to the positive momentum and help realize the potential of the technology to deliver valuable therapeutics with more speed, precision, and predictability than ever before.” Ms. Finnerty-Brooks has led, architected, and contributed to numerous development and M&A deals across therapeutic areas within the biotech, medical device, and related technologies fields, including most notably the 2020 sale of Dermira to Eli Lilly and the 2021 sale of Qbrexza® to Journey Medical. Prior roles include corporate development leadership positions at Adanate, DSM Biomedical, Precigen, and FibroGen. Ms. Finnerty-Brooks is active in industry associations, including the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), Women in Bio (WIB), and the California Life Sciences Association (CLSA). She holds a master’s in business administration from Saint Joseph’s University and a bachelor’s degree from Temple University. About Chemilogics™ Empress’s proprietary Chemilogics product platform creates drugs by understanding how the genetic code programs cells in the human body to produce chemical compounds called metabolites, a rich source of potential small molecule medicines. The company is initially focused on metabolites produced by commensal bacteria and uses a proprietary suite of computational and genetic technologies to create small molecule chemical compounds by harnessing the genetic foundation of biologics. About Empress Therapeutics Founded by Flagship Pioneering in 2020, Empress Therapeutics generates good medicines, fast, by starting with chemistry inside the human body. The Empress Chemilogics™ platform uses novel insights that connect the lines of code in DNA with drug-like chemistry made in the human body to create first- or best-in-class oral medicines for a broad range of diseases quickly, predictably, and cost-effectively. For more information, visit and follow at @empress_tx.

Clinical and Regulatory Affairs Expert Pamela Misajon Brings Drug-Development Expertise Finance and Technology Executive Michael Catlin to Chair the Audit Committee HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kiromic BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: KRBP) (“Kiromic” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage, fully-integrated biotherapeutics company using its proprietary DIAMOND® artificial intelligence and data mining platform to develop cell therapies with a focus on immuno-oncology, announces the appointments of Pamela Misajon and Michael Catlin to its Board of Directors. Their regulatory and finance experience enhances Kiromic’s governance and re-establishes the Company’s five-member Board of Directors. “We are delighted to welcome Pam and Michael to Kiromic’s Board. Pam’s impressive biopharmaceutical experience, including expertise with U.S. and international regulatory strategies, will play a valuable role in advancing our Deltacel program through the clinic. We are confident that her strategic insight and leadership skills will contribute to guiding our development pathway, beginning with non-small cell lung cancer,” stated Michael Nagel, Chairperson of Kiromic’s Board of Directors. “With Michael’s exceptional proficiency in IT and finance, along with his passion for leveraging technology to drive innovation, his appointment aligns with our vision for using our proprietary DIAMOND® AI-powered analysis to continue identifying and developing potential cell therapies to address solid tumor cancers.” "I am honored to join the Board of Directors at Kiromic Biopharma, a company that is at the forefront of pioneering personalized solid tumor cancer treatments, an area of significant unmet need. I am inspired by the team's dedication to improving patient outcomes through innovative science, and I look forward to contributing my experience and insight to accelerate the development of Kiromic’s Deltacel program," said Ms. Misajon. "I am passionate about leveraging technology and data-driven approaches to drive innovation in cancer treatments. I look forward to joining the Kiromic Board and contributing to their groundbreaking efforts in precision medicine. As Chair of the Audit Committee and with a keen understanding of the capital markets, I intend to be a resource in responsibly guiding invested capital," said Mr. Catlin. About Pamela Misajon Pam Misajon brings to Kiromic more than three decades of experience with a comprehensive background in drug development, regulatory affairs and clinical operations, as well as product commercialization strategies. She has held several high-pro within the biopharmaceutical industry, including currently serving as Chief Compliance Officer and Vice President of Operations, Regulatory and Quality Affairs at Suneva Medical. Prior to Suneva Medical, Ms. Misajon held positions at several pharmaceutical companies, including Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at Neomend, where she played a key role in securing regulatory approvals for multiple breakthrough therapies. She also held executive regulatory and clinical affairs positions at Ellipse Technologies, Pegasus Biologics, and IntraLuminal Therapeutics. Ms. Misajon received a B.A. in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, San Diego Campus. About Michael Catlin As Senior Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer, and Head of Technology Services at Capital Group from 1994 to 2022, Mr. Catlin played a pivotal role in transforming the organization's approach to security. He modernized and expanded the company’s security program, evolving IT to a top business priority. He also had a significant impact on technology infrastructure at Capital Group, overseeing 500 global associates and a $400 million annual budget. His initiatives resulted in improved system availability and streamlined operations to support business growth and effective cost control. Mr. Catlin serves on Capital Group’s audit committee, the operations risk oversight committee, the information security steering committee, and the American Funds Service board. He is also Chair of the Investment Company Institute. Mr. Catlin received a B.S. in Business Computer Methods and an M.S. in Computer Science from California State University. About Kiromic BioPharma Kiromic BioPharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage, fully integrated biotherapeutics company using its proprietary DIAMOND® artificial intelligence (AI) 2.0 target discovery engine to develop and commercialize cell therapies focusing on immuno-oncology. Kiromic is developing a multi-indication allogeneic cell therapy platform that exploits the natural potency of Gamma Delta T-cells to target solid cancers. Kiromic’s DIAMOND® AI is where data science meets target identification to dramatically compress the years and hundreds of millions of dollars required to develop a live drug. The Company maintains offices in Houston, Texas. To learn more, visit and connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Kiromic makes such forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and other federal securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as: “will,” “potential,” “could,” “can,” “believe,” “intends,” “continue,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “may,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: Kiromic’s ability to achieve its objectives and Kiromic’s financing strategy and availability of funds. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and as detailed from time to time in our other SEC filings. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance, or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements relate only to events as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: Contacts Kiromic BioPharma Linda Phelan Dyson, MPH Global Head, Corporate Communications ldyson@kiromic.com 281-468-7683 LHA Investor Relations Tirth T. Patel tpatel@lhai.com 212-201-6614 Source: Kiromic BioPharma, Inc. View this news release online at: