On February 3, 2020 Crescendo Biologics Ltd (Crescendo), the drug developer of novel, targeted, T cell enhancing therapeutics, reported the appointment of Dr Kenji Hashimoto as the Company’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO) (Press release, Crescendo Biologics, FEB 3, 2020, View Source [SID1234553757]).
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
Dr Hashimoto will oversee Crescendo’s clinical development strategy and medical affairs. His appointment marks the next stage of Crescendo’s development, as it focuses on building out its clinical capabilities and bringing its lead programme, CB307, to the clinic later this year. He replaces Dr Pavel Pisa as CMO, who has transitioned into the role of scientific adviser.
Dr Hashimoto joins the Company with over 15 years’ experience in oncology and immuno-oncology. Prior to joining Crescendo, he led the clinical development of a checkpoint inhibitor in renal cell carcinoma at Roche, with responsibility for multiple late phase clinical trials. Prior to that, he was Clinical Research Physician at Chugai Pharma Europe, leading clinical development for a bispecific T cell engaging antibody programme as well as other early phase projects. He was previously Chief Resident in Medical Oncology at the National Cancer Centre Hospital, Tokyo. He has a PhD in medical oncology from the University of Oxford and a medical degree from Gunma University in Japan.
The Company’s lead programme, CB307, is a CD137 (4-1BB) x PSMA bispecific for PSMA-positive tumours.
Theodora Harold, CEO of Crescendo Biologics, said:
"Kenji has considerable immuno-oncology expertise and an impressive track record in leading clinical development programmes. This experience will be crucial as we progress our pipeline of innovative, first in class, T cell enhancing programmes. On behalf of the Board, I would like to welcome Kenji to the Crescendo team at this exciting time for the Company as we take our first programme into the clinic later this year.
"I would also like to thank Pavel for his valuable contribution to the Company as CMO and look forward to working with him as one of our scientific advisers."
Kenji Hashimoto, CMO of Crescendo Biologics commented:
"I am delighted to be joining Crescendo at this exciting time. Crescendo has established an important position in the CD137 (4-1BB) space. I look forward to helping the Company advance its pipeline of novel T cell enhancing programmes, and to helping translate its next generation programmes into therapeutics for real patient benefit."