NEWTOWN, PA — Traws Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRAW) announced the appointment of John Leaman, MD, to its board of directors as an independent director, further strengthening its leadership as the company advances clinical development of its lead antiviral candidate, ratutrelvir. The board also confirmed Iain Dukes as Chief Executive Officer and Charles Parker as Chief Financial Officer, removing their interim designations.
“Dr. Leaman brings more than a decade of experience in finance, M&A, and corporate strategy, and we are excited to welcome him to our Board of Directors,” said Jack E. Stover, Chairman of Traws Pharma. “In addition, eliminating the interim title of our key executive officers indicates the full support of them by the Board.”
CEO Iain Dukes said the appointment comes at a pivotal time for the company. “We believe Dr. Leaman’s insights and guidance will be invaluable as we prepare to enroll subjects in Phase 2 studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of ratutrelvir, designed to be a broadly acting treatment for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 that can be used without ritonavir,” he said.
Dr. Leaman currently serves as Chief Financial Officer at Cellarity Inc., where he helped close a major pharmaceutical partnership and led the company’s Series D crossover financing. He previously held senior financial and business development roles at Impel Pharmaceuticals, Selecta Biosciences, and InfaCare Pharmaceutical Corporation, where he guided strategic transactions including an IPO and multiple acquisitions.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Leaman served as Chief Financial Officer of Medgenics, Inc. and held senior roles at Shire plc and Devon Park Bioventures. He began his career advising life sciences firms at McKinsey & Company.
A Rhodes Scholar, Dr. Leaman earned his MD from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from the Wharton School, a BA from Oriel College, University of Oxford, and a BS from Elizabethtown College.
“I am thrilled to join Traws’ Board of Directors as the company progresses with its lead antiviral product candidate, ratutrelvir, for COVID,” said Dr. Leaman. “I look forward to working with Traws’ Board and leadership team as it accelerates developing novel therapies to treat respiratory viral diseases.”
The appointment and executive confirmations come as Traws prepares for the next phase of its clinical program, underscoring the company’s focus on advancing antiviral treatments for unmet global health needs.
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