On January 10, 2022 Pyramid Biosciences, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a portfolio of precision therapies targeting a wide range of diseases, reported the appointment of Brian Lestini, MD, PhD as Chief Executive Officer (Press release, Pyramid Biosciences, JAN 10, 2022, View Source [SID1234598535]). Dr. Lestini joined Pyramid Biosciences in March 2021 as the Chief Medical Officer, overseeing the advancement and expansion of the company’s clinical pipeline of novel targeted medicines. Pyramid Biosciences’ lead program, PBI-200, currently in Phase 1 clinical trials, is an orally-active, CNS penetrant TRK inhibitor targeting a variety of genetically defined cancers, including primary and metastatic brain cancers.
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Dr. Lestini will succeed co-founder and current CEO Kollol Pal, PhD, MBA. Dr. Pal will continue to serve as the Company’s Chief Scientific Officer, where he will lead all pre-clinical development activities. "I would like to thank Dr. Pal for his pioneering leadership," said Dr. Lestini. "Pyramid Biosciences has grown immensely over the past seven years under Dr. Pal’s stewardship, and I’m excited to help the company take the next step in our growth and achieve Dr. Pal’s vision of bringing Pyramid’s precision oncology therapies to underserved patients throughout the world."
"Dr. Lestini’s successful track record of bringing drugs through development to global approval will be invaluable to Pyramid Bio as we move forward in our clinical development process," said Dr. Pal. "I’m looking forward to continuing to grow our Company’s pipeline by focusing my efforts on developing new, innovative therapeutic targets for precision oncology."
An experienced leader in early- and late-stage oncology clinical development, Dr. Lestini oversaw development and commercialization strategies for checkpoint inhibitor therapies including OPDIVO (nivolumab) and relatlimab (anti-LAG3 checkpoint inhibitor), a novel immune-oncology agent applied to a wide range of cancers, at Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY). Dr. Lestini also served as the Head of Global Medical Affairs at Bristol-Myers Squibb for three hematology products: OPDIVO (nivolumab), SPRYCEL (dasatinib), and EMPLICITI (elotuzumab). Prior to joining Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dr. Lestini led early-stage clinical development programs at Hoffmann-La Roche (OTCMKTS: RHHBY).
Dr. Lestini is a board-certified pediatric hematologist-oncologist. He received his medical degree (MD) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from Case Western Reserve University and completed his fellowship training at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.