Akston Expands Leadership Team with Appointment of Two Veterinarians to Advance First-in-Class Biologics for Pets

DVMs Antonella Borgatti and Kristina Kalevas Camp join to advance Akston's pipeline of first-in-class biologics for cancer, chronic pain, dermatitis, and obesity in pets

BEVERLY, Mass., Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Akston, the Biotech Built for Pets, announced today the appointment of Antonella Borgatti, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), DECVIM-CA and Kristina Kalevas Camp, DVM, PhD, to its leadership team. The two accomplished veterinarians bring extensive expertise in oncology, regulatory science, and biologics innovation to advance Akston's growing pipeline of first-in-class therapies for pets, including candidates targeting cancer, chronic pain, dermatitis, and obesity. These therapies are designed to reduce treatment frequency, improve outcomes, and make advanced care more accessible for pets and their families.

Drs. Borgatti and Camp bring their unique expertise in clinical research and regulatory within animal health and veterinary to Akston. Their combined leadership will help ensure programs are grounded in real-world veterinary considerations and designed to deliver meaningful benefits for veterinarians, pets and their families.

They will play a key role in advancing Akston's pipeline, including its PD-L1–targeting protein therapy for canine bladder cancer, developed in collaboration with Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine, and its first-in-class cancer immunotherapy for dogs with solid tumors derived from the company's Ambifect® Fc-fusion platform.

"At Akston, we are reimagining what is possible in pet health - bringing forward biologics that last longer, work better, and are easier to deliver," said Todd Zion, PhD, co-founder and chief executive officer of Akston. "Dr. Borgatti and Dr. Camp bring the right combination of veterinary knowledge, deep scientific expertise, and regulatory leadership needed to accelerate that vision. Their impact will be felt across our entire pipeline - from pioneering cancer therapies to new solutions for chronic pain, dermatitis, and obesity, ensuring we deliver innovation that truly changes the standard of care for pets everywhere."

Antonella Borgatti, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), DECVIM-CA – Director of Clinical Development – Biologics 
Dr. Borgatti will lead clinical development of USDA-regulated biologics, oversee study design and execution, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Double-boarded by the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine in the specialty of oncology, Dr. Borgatti brings more than 17 years of clinical and research experience. Most recently, she served as Professor of Veterinary Oncology, Head of Oncology Clinical Research and Director of the Clinical Investigation Center at the University of Minnesota, where she also directed the Medical Oncology Residency Program. During her faculty tenure, she served as principal investigator on multiple funded projects focusing on developing targeted, biological drugs and novel targeted immunotherapies against incurable tumors in companion animals. She also practiced at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas in Cary, North Carolina, and Carolina Veterinary Specialists. She earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Torino and a master's degree in veterinary sciences from Purdue University.

Kristina Camp, DVM, PhD – Director of Regulatory Affairs – Biologics
Dr. Camp will direct regulatory strategy for USDA-regulated biologics, manage submissions to the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB), and ensure compliance across internal teams and external partners.

Dr. Camp brings deep regulatory and scientific expertise to Akston, with a background in oncology, vaccines and biologics. Most recently, she served as Senior Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs, Biologicals for U.S. and Primary Markets at Boehringer Ingelheim, where she supported global regulatory efforts for over 200 licensed products across 80 countries. Her responsibilities included licensing new products, lifecycle management of existing licenses, maintaining regulatory compliance and ensuring global product access. She was previously an associate veterinarian at Hayes Barton Animal Hospital in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, and the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas in Cary, North Carolina. Dr. Camp holds a PhD in Nutrition Biochemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University.

Akston, which transitioned from human to animal health in 2023, is advancing toward conditional USDA licensure of its lead anti-cPD-L1 monoclonal antibody for dogs with urothelial carcinoma, targeted for 2027. This would be followed by the targeted 2029 launch of its first-in-class cancer immunotherapy for dogs with solid tumors, which leverages Akston's proprietary Ambifect® Fc-fusion platform and is designed for convenient intramuscular administration. Drs. Borgatti and Camp will also support development of additional targeted and immune-enhancing protein therapies addressing unmet needs in chronic pain, dermatitis, and pet obesity.

About Akston
Akston is a biotech company built for pets. Powered by its proprietary Ambifect® Fc-fusion protein platform, Akston develops targeted and immune-enhancing biologics that aim to reduce treatment frequency while improving efficacy. With a fully integrated structure and in-house GMP biologics manufacturing, Akston accelerates development from discovery to commercialization - bringing innovation to veterinarians and pets faster. https://www.akstonbio.com. 

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SOURCE Akston