Oculis taps Roche veteran after setback; ARTHEx brings in Azafaros’ CMO; CRISPR recruits Orna’s former CTO
Every Friday, The Leadership Edit follows people taking new roles across European biotech and what their moves may tell us about the companies they join. This week: neuroscience experience for Oculis, an experienced CMO for ARTHEx and manufacturing leadership for CRISPR Therapeutics.
Oculis: Roche’s neuroscience head joins after a Phase 3 setback. Björn Tackenberg has become chief scientific officer as Oculis concentrates on its remaining late-stage programs. In May, the Swiss biotech said it would not seek U.S. approval for OCS-01 in diabetic macular edema after two pivotal trials failed to improve vision. Its priorities now include the PIONEER registrational program for Privosegtor in optic nerve diseases and a registrational dry eye trial for Licaminlimab. Tackenberg was previously Roche’s head of integrative neuroscience and medical practice. Before that, he led a neuroimmunology center at Germany’s Marburg University, where he established a unit that conducted more than 75 randomized trials. At Oculis, he will guide Privosegtor’s scientific strategy and assess its potential in acute multiple sclerosis relapses and other neurological conditions. Oculis also recently hired neurologist Aaron Tansy to lead development of its neurology franchise.
ARTHEx Biotech: Biotech CMO veteran joins to strengthen the team. Christian Freitag has become chief medical officer at the Valencia-based RNA therapeutics company. He most recently held the same role at Azafaros and previously oversaw medical and regulatory strategy at Dynacure, including development of a treatment for inherited muscle disorders. Earlier, he led Phase 1 through Phase 3 clinical programs at Debiopharm and held senior development roles at BTG and Shire. ARTHEx’s lead candidate, ATX-01, is in a Phase 1/2a trial for myotonic dystrophy type 1. The company is also assessing whether to develop it for type 2 of the disease.
CRISPR Therapeutics: An RNA manufacturing specialist takes the technical lead. Siva Sakhamuri joined as chief technical officer on November 2. He previously held that role at Orna Therapeutics, overseeing manufacturing and quality work on its circular RNA programs until Orna’s acquisition by Lilly. Earlier, at Alnylam, he helped prepare three RNA interference medicines for commercial launch. CRISPR Therapeutics already markets the gene-edited therapy Casgevy with Vertex and is developing additional gene-editing and RNA treatments. Sakhamuri’s appointment adds manufacturing experience as those investigational programs progress.
T-Therapeutics: Development chief arrives with $133 million in fresh funding. Cambridge-based T-Therapeutics appointed Kirsty Crame chief development officer as it announced a $133 million Series B on November 5. Before becoming CMO at Curatis, Crame led clinical strategy at Medigene for TCR-directed cancer therapies. Earlier, at Gadeta, she directed preparations for first-in-human TCR-T trials in the U.S. and Europe. She will oversee translational and clinical work on two T-cell receptor bispecific programs in cancer and autoimmune disease. The financing is intended to take both programs into the clinic and through clinical proof of concept.
AAX Biotech: Former Aqilion CEO takes over as the company pursues pharma deals. Sarah Fredriksson became CEO of the Swedish antibody technology company on November 1. She founded Genovis, led it for 16 years and took it public, then served as CEO of drug developer Aqilion. At AAX, the next task is turning evaluations of its antibody tools, including work with Daiichi Sankyo, into partnerships and licensing revenue. Fredriksson’s move comes as Aqilion considers its own future: the company received an indicative offer for the entire company in August, but said in October that discussions had shifted toward a possible sale of its pipeline projects. No binding deal had been announced.
MitoRx Therapeutics: A Novo Nordisk dealmaker joins before clinical development. Neil Anderson became chief business officer at the Oxfordshire biotech on November 3, taking over responsibilities previously handled by a consultant. At Novo Nordisk, he established an early-stage cardiometabolic investment initiative and worked in search and evaluation. He also led business development at Evaxion Biotech. MitoRx’s lead obesity candidate, MTRX31, remains preclinical; the company is working to move it toward human testing while seeking partners.
