Pathios Therapeutics Limited, a biotech company focused on the development of first-in-class therapies for cancer, has appointed Sumeet Ambarkhane, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

A physician by training, Ambarkhane possesses more than 20 years of experience across academia and the biopharmaceutical industry in areas spanning clinical care, early through late-stage drug development, regulatory and commercialization. In his new role with Pathios, he will guide the advancement of the company’s novel therapeutic programs, including PTT-4256, its lead internally discovered, oral, highly potent, and selective small molecule inhibitor of GPR65, which is currently being evaluated in a first-in-human clinical trial in advanced solid cancers.

Experience

Ambarkhane most recently served as Chief Medical Officer for Alligator Bioscience, where he provided medical leadership and direction for the company’s preclinical and clinical pipeline of tumor-directed immuno-oncology drugs targeting 4-1BB and CD40 receptors and played a pivotal role in advancing mitazalimab towards Phase 3 in pancreatic cancer.

Prior to joining Alligator Bioscience, Ambarkhane served as Senior Global Program Medical Director at MorphoSys AG, leading the clinical development for its hemato-oncology programs, including tafasitamab (Monjuvi/Minjuvi). His career also includes a tenure at UCB Pharmaceuticals in roles of increasing responsibility across geographies, supporting the company’s immunology and neurology drug development portfolio.

Ambarkhane holds a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery, as well as medical doctorate degrees in medicine and clinical pharmacology from Seth G.S. Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital, University of Mumbai in India.

“In today’s versatile and dynamic ecosystem, it is rare to find an opportunity to work on a truly differentiated and promising approach to treating disease. Pathios Therapeutics has trailblazed research and validated genetic analysis related to GPR65 inhibition and is the first and only company positioned to bring its genetically validated protective effect to patients in the form of a novel immunotherapy,” said Ambarkhane. “I am eager to work alongside the high-calibre team of scientists, entrepreneurs and executives at Pathios to continue to advance this promising technology and ultimately deliver much-needed breakthroughs for people with cancer.”

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Last year, Pathios Therapeutics appointed Paul G. Higham, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).