Akriveia Therapeutics Announces Key Additions to its Leadership Team

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Nov. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Akriveia Therapeutics, an emerging immuno-oncology focused biotechnology company, today announced recent key additions to its research leadership team.  Dr. C. Glenn Begley has joined the company as Chief Scientific Officer and Dr. Margaret Karow has joined as Vice President of Discovery and Preclinical Development.

Akriveia Therapeutics is harnessing its proprietary platform to create immunotherapeutic products that are specifically activated in the microenvironment of the tumor. It is anticipated that this will substantially increase the utility of immuno-oncology agents and spare patients the treatment-limiting, debilitating and sometimes lethal side-effects of the current generation of immunotherapeutics. 

"Glenn and Margaret joining the company are pivotal events for Akriveia," commented Dr. Simon Tomlinson, Chief Executive Officer of Akriveia Therapeutics, "the depth and breadth of experience in the discovery and development of cancer biologics that they bring to the company is immense.  Their expertise will be key to Akriveia rapidly building a proprietary pipeline of next-generation immunotherapeutics.  I am thrilled and honored to welcome them to the company."

Most recently Dr. Begley was Chief Scientific Officer at TetraLogic Pharmaceuticals. For the 10 years prior he was Vice-President and Global Head of Hematology and Oncology Research at Amgen Inc, based in California.  His group was responsible for marketed molecules such as Neupogen, Neulasta, Aranesp, Nplate, Xgeva, discovery of 25 new clinical-stage molecules, and in-licensing of molecules such as Imlygic the first approved oncolytic virus therapy and Blincyto, a bi-specific T-cell engager molecule. Dr. Begley's personal research has focused on hematopoiesis and stem cell biology. He has published over 200 papers that have been highly cited.  His recent work includes analysis of the rigor and reproducibility of scientific research. Dr. Begley originally trained in Australia as a medical oncologist and molecular biologist and has received a number of awards including election to the Association of American Physicians in 2008.

Prior to joining Akriveia, Dr. Karow was an Executive Director at Amgen for 10 years. At Amgen, she held multiple roles in drug discovery and development. These included Executive Director in the Biosimilars Business Unit as the lead for Biosimilars Process Development, and as an Executive Director in Discovery Research leading the Biologics Optimization organization, Protein Sciences at the Thousand Oaks campus, and the site head for the Burnaby, Canada research site where XenoMouse antibody development is based. Prior to Amgen, Dr. Karow was at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for 10 years, where she was the Vice President of Traps, Small Molecule and Antibody Development, and the Immunology therapeutic area. She was also the co-lead for the development of the VelocImmune mouse platform for the production of human antibodies. As a leader in biotechnology, she has shepherded multiple large molecule projects from their discovery stage and into clinical trials, as well as to the successful filing of marketing applications. Margaret completed her post-doctoral work at Temple Medical School and her Ph.D. at the University of Utah, and holds a BA in MCD Biology from the University of Colorado.

"I'm excited to be joining Akriveia at this strategic stage of its development," noted Dr. Begley, "the scientific founders have built a powerful and novel platform for the discovery of immuno-therapeutics with pharmacological action targeted to tumor sites.  I'm looking forward to helping the company drive the development of a proprietary pipeline and to exploring partnerships that combine our strengths with those of other pharma and biotechnology companies."

"Akriveia presented a unique opportunity for me to apply my experience of biotherapeutic discovery and development at an early stage company in the immuno-oncology field," noted Dr. Karow, "the Akriveia approach offers the promise of tackling a significant unmet medical need for safer and more effective immuno-oncology agents.  I'm delighted to have joined Akriveia and I am looking forward to helping the company build a pipeline of innovative immunotherapeutics."

About Akriveia Therapeutics

Akriveia Therapeutics is actively pursuing the discovery and development of the next generation of cancer immunotherapies. Akriveia believes its new agents offer the promise of a safer and more efficacious approach to harness a patient's own immune system to fight cancer.  Akriveia was founded on the pioneering work of Professor John Williams at City of Hope and Professor Ulrich Rodeck at Thomas Jefferson University, experts in the fields of bioengineering and cancer therapeutic discovery.  The company is backed by leading life science investor FPrime Capital Partners.

SOURCE Akriveia Therapeutics

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