CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncorus^®, Inc., a biotechnology company developing a best-in-class platform of oncolytic viruses for the treatment of several types of cancer, today announced that industry veteran Theodore (Ted) T. Ashburn, M.D., Ph.D., has joined the company as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and will also serve on its Board of Directors. Dr. Ashburn's most recent role was Head of Oncology Development for Moderna Therapeutics. He will leverage his leadership experience at both large pharmaceutical and emerging biotechnology companies to guide Oncorus' current development programs and drive strategic initiatives that advance the company's leadership in the field of therapeutic oncolytic viruses.

Mitchell H. Finer, Ph.D., Oncorus' co-founder and MPM Capital Managing Director, will assume the role of Executive Chairman succeeding MPM Capital co-founder Luke B. Evnin, Ph.D., who will continue to serve on Oncorus' Board. "It has been a tremendous honor to serve as CEO of Oncorus since co-founding the company, and I am incredibly proud of everything our team has accomplished together in just three years. Ted brings a wealth of experience and proven track record of strategic business and development accomplishments including in the field of immuno-oncology. The Board and I are highly confident that Ted will provide exceptional leadership and take Oncorus to great heights as we develop our medicines for significant unmet medical needs in field of oncology," said Dr. Finer.

Dr. Evnin said, "Mitch has done a remarkable job in launching and building Oncorus in a short timeframe, and it has been a privilege to work with him and serve as Chairman. I know that I speak for everyone at Oncorus in thanking Mitch for his leadership and tireless dedication to the company. We are all excited about the opportunity for growth and value creation under Ted's leadership."

"The oncolytic virus space is rapidly maturing and has the potential to usher in the next step change in improved outcomes for cancer patients. I am honored to be selected as Oncorus' next CEO and look forward to partnering with Mitch, our Board and our exceptionally talented team, to continue our momentum and urgently drive our best-in-class, locally and systemically administered product candidates to the bedside," said Dr. Ashburn.

Prior to joining Oncorus, Dr. Ashburn served as Head of Oncology Development at Moderna Therapeutics, Inc. Previously, he held key leadership roles of increasing responsibility in preclinical and clinical development, business development, strategic planning, product strategy, manufacturing and operations at multiple emerging biotechnology, as well as established pharmaceutical companies including Sanofi Oncology and Genzyme. He started his career at Pfizer, Inc. He received his B.S. in chemistry and computer science from Ball State University, his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his M.D. from Harvard Medical School.

About Oncorus, Inc.
Oncorus, Inc., is a privately held biotechnology company whose mission is to urgently bring the full potential of oncolytic viruses to cancer patients. The Company is developing several, best-in-class, locally and systemically administered oncolytic viruses armed with multiple immunomodulatory payloads to kill both primary and metastatic cancer cells while leveraging proprietary strategies for preventing viral replication in healthy tissues. A leader in corporate philanthropy, Oncorus has pledged to donate a portion of product sales to fund promising cancer research and to support cancer care in the developing world. The company is located in Kendall Square, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Please visit www.oncorus.com for more information.

SOURCE Oncorus, Inc.

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https://www.oncorus.com