NEWARK, DE — Corrixr Therapeutics has appointed biotechnology executive Hilary M. Malone as chief executive officer as the gene-editing company prepares to advance its lead cancer therapy candidate into regulatory review and initial human testing.
Malone succeeds company founder Eric B. Kmiec, who will remain chief scientific officer while continuing to oversee the scientific direction of the company, Corrixr announced.
The leadership transition comes as Corrixr advances CXR101, a pre-clinical genetic medicine targeting squamous cell cancers of the lung, head and neck, and esophagus, toward an Investigational New Drug application and first-in-human studies.
Malone brings more than 25 years of experience spanning drug development, regulatory affairs, clinical development, and biotechnology leadership. Most recently, she served as chief executive officer of Stylus Medicine and previously led Certego Therapeutics.
Her career also includes senior leadership positions at Sanofi, where she served as chief regulatory officer and head of global regulatory affairs, as well as roles at Reata Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer/Wyeth, AstraZeneca, GSK, and Valo Health.
“I’m excited to join Corrixr at this important juncture,” Malone said. “We now have a tremendous opportunity to bring a potentially transformative treatment to thousands of patients suffering from head & neck, lung and esophageal squamous cell cancers.”
Corrixr’s lead program is designed to target NRF2, a transcription factor associated with the growth and survival of squamous cell cancers. The company describes the approach as using CRISPR-based gene editing delivered through lipid nanoparticles to disrupt cancer-driving genetic mechanisms.
Janice E. Nevin, chair of Corrixr’s board and president and CEO of ChristianaCare, characterized Malone’s appointment as a step toward moving the company’s research into clinical development.
“Corrixr has built a compelling body of scientific evidence, and we believe Hilary has precisely the experience and vision to translate that science into the clinic and beyond,” Nevin said.
ChristianaCare is Corrixr’s founding institutional investor and partner, according to the company.
Malone currently serves on the board of Hansa Biopharma and holds a doctorate in neuropharmacology.
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