On September 2, 2021 Chemomab Therapeutics Ltd. (Nasdaq: CMMB), a clinical-stage biotech company focused on the discovery and development of innovative therapeutics for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases with high unmet need, reported it has appointed Dale R. Pfost, PhD, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) (Press release, Anchiano Therapeutics, SEP 2, 2021, View Source [SID1234587145]). Dr. Adi Mor, Company co-founder and current CEO, will continue in her role as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and remain as a member of the Board of Directors. The addition of Dr. Pfost, who brings more than 30 years of diverse experience as a life science senior executive, entrepreneur and venture investor, reflects a planned strategic expansion of the Chemomab senior management team. Dr. Pfost is expected to join the Company’s Board of Directors and subsequently become the company’s Chairman in 2022.
"The Board and I welcome Dale and thank Adi for her tremendous contributions as founding chief executive of Chemomab," said Stephen Squinto, PhD, Chairman of the Board at Chemomab and an Executive Partner at OrbiMed. "Adi built both the scientific and business platforms for Chemomab and she will continue to be instrumental in the development of our first-in-class therapeutic addressing a novel target for multiple inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, helping position the company for future success. We look forward to her continued contributions as we evolve and grow."
Dr. Pfost has served as CEO of six biotechnology companies, three of which became publicly traded with valuations exceeding two billion dollars. He has successfully completed dozens of financings, overseen numerous M&A transactions and served as a director at multiple public and private life science firms.
Dr. Squinto continued, "We are delighted that Dale is coming on board as CEO. He is a seasoned biotechnology industry veteran with deep relationships and a history of successfully building innovative companies through organic growth and strategic acquisitions. With two Phase 2 studies underway and a third poised to kick off in the coming months, Chemomab is making excellent progress on realizing its potential as a premier company addressing diseases with large unmet medical needs. We look forward to Dale’s astute leadership during the next stage of growth."
Dr. Pfost said, "Adi and the Chemomab team have built an impressive company based on a unique asset with multiple high value applications. They have demonstrated exceptional skill in undertaking translational work and establishing clinical programs, and we look forward to extending the company’s already strong network of scientific and clinical collaborators in the U.S. This is an exciting time to join, as the company is well-positioned for both continued progress with its current programs and for leveraging strategic growth opportunities."
Dr. Mor said, "We advanced our novel anti-CCL24 antibody from the lab to the clinic and executed a successful merger earlier in the year. Now is the right time to add to our leadership team as we expand our strategic scope and our geographic presence in the U.S. Dale has a terrific track record of successfully growing biotech companies and I welcome the opportunity to work with him to build on the strong foundation we have achieved to date."
Until it was acquired in May of this year, Dr. Pfost was Chairman and CEO of innovative drug discovery firm Lodo Therapeutics. Previously, he was the U.S.-based General Partner at London-based venture capital firm Advent Life Sciences and served as Executive Chairman of portfolio companies CN Creative and Vestagen Protective Technologies. He co-founded and was acting CEO of MicroBiome Therapeutics in the year leading up to its acquisition. Dr. Pfost also was founding CEO of Acuity Pharmaceuticals, which merged to form OPKO Health. He was the founding CEO of Oxford GlycoSciences and genomics pioneer Orchid BioSciences. Dr. Pfost was also CEO at anti-cancer company Receptor BioLogix, where he led its successful acquisition. His first company, which he started in graduate school, was acquired by SmithKline Beckman and produced the Biomek, still a leading laboratory automation system today. Dr. Pfost is the co-author of 10 scientific papers and an inventor on 10 patents. He earned a BS degree from the University of California Santa Barbara and a PhD in physics from Brown University.
Dr. Pfost’s appointment as CEO and member of the Board will become effective upon the approval of Chemomab shareholders, as is required for public companies based in Israel. A shareholder vote is expected in the fourth quarter of 2021. His expected appointment as Chairman in 2022 will also require shareholder approval.
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