VERAXA Biotech AG (NASDAQ: VRXA) announced the appointment of Christoph Erkel, Ph.D., as chief scientific officer, effective immediately. Erkel, who previously served as vice president of research and development, will lead the advancement of the company’s proprietary BiTAC(R) platform technologies for the development of cancer therapies targeting solid tumors. He succeeds Rick Austin, Ph.D., who will depart following a transition period.
Erkel brings two decades of experience in antibody therapeutics, antibody engineering and preclinical development, including prior leadership roles at MorphoSys AG, where he led immuno-oncology programs focused on T-cell engagers. VERAXA said his experience managing multidisciplinary research programs will support efforts to expand the company’s oncology pipeline and advance BiTAC(R) candidates toward clinical development.
The appointment comes as VERAXA focuses on its BiTAC platform, which includes bispecific T cell engagers, bispecific ADCs and other innovative antibody-based formats. The company was founded on scientific breakthroughs made at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), a world-renowned institution for life science research.
This leadership change is critical for VERAXA as it seeks to move its pipeline from preclinical research into clinical trials. The company’s forward-looking statements, as detailed in its SEC filings, highlight risks and uncertainties that could affect actual results. For more information on the company’s news and updates, visit the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/VRXA. The full press release is available at https://nnw.fm/cR1RS.
