Press Releases
Barinthus Bio Names Experienced Physician, Leon Hooftman MD, as chief medical officer
Dr Hooftman brings more than 25 years’ experience in international drug development including immunology, autoimmunity, hematology, oncology and infectious diseases.
Oxford, UK -- 1 May 2024 -- Barinthus Biotherapeutics plc (NASDAQ: BRNS), formerly Vaccitech plc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel T-cell immunotherapeutic candidates designed to guide the immune system to overcome chronic infectious diseases, autoimmunity and cancer, today announced the appointment of Leon Hooftman MD, as chief medical officer (CMO).
“We are happy to welcome Dr Hooftman to Barinthus Bio as our chief medical officer. With his experience spearheading clinical studies from early development through late-stage trials, he is a valuable addition to the Barinthus Bio team during a critical time in our growth,” said chief executive officer, Bill Enright. “Dr Hooftman’s background as a clinician and biotech CMO will be invaluable as we advance Barinthus Bio’s extensive pipeline and goals to develop first-in-class therapies for diseases with unmet needs.”
Dr Hooftman brings significant drug development expertise across a broad array of therapeutic areas including oncology, infectious diseases and inflammation. His R&D portfolio includes successful clinical trial programmes that resulted in the development of novel agents: mycophenolate mofetil (transplantation), rituximab (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma), gemtuzumab ozogamycin (Leukemia) and lipid complex amphotericin B (serious fungal infections). He has held senior management positions at Roche and UCB Celltech and has subsequently been a CMO of several biotechnology companies. He joins Barinthus Bio, from ISA Pharmaceuticals, a specialist immune-oncology company.
“I am pleased to be joining Barinthus Bio at this phase in the company’s trajectory,” said Dr Hooftman. “I am encouraged by the breadth of pipeline the company has established and I look forward to bringing my experience to support the advancement of the T-cell immunotherapeutic candidates to help people living with life-threatening diseases.”
Dr. Hooftman holds a MD from Utrecht State University, Netherlands, and performed his specialist training in Cambridge and London, UK. Dr Hooftman will step into his new role at the beginning of June 2024.
About Barinthus Biotherapeutics
Barinthus Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel T-cell immunotherapeutic candidates designed to guide the immune system to overcome chronic infectious diseases, autoimmunity and cancer. Helping people living with serious diseases and their families is the guiding principle at the heart of Barinthus Bio. With a broad pipeline, built around three proprietary platform technologies: ChAdOx, MVA and SNAP; Barinthus Bio is advancing a pipeline of four product candidates across a diverse range of therapeutic areas, including: VTP-300, an immunotherapeutic candidate designed as a potential component of a functional cure for chronic HBV infection; VTP-200, a non-surgical product candidate for persistent high-risk HPV infection; VTP-1000, an autoimmune candidate designed to utilise the SNAP-Tolerance Immunotherapy (TI) platform to treat patients with celiac disease; and VTP-850, a second-generation immunotherapeutic candidate designed to treat recurrent prostate cancer. Barinthus Bio’s proven scientific expertise, diverse portfolio, and focus on pipeline development uniquely positions the company to navigate towards delivering treatments for people with infectious diseases, autoimmunity and cancers that have a significant impact on their everyday lives.
For more information, visit www.barinthusbio.com.
Dr Hooftman brings more than 25 years’ experience in international drug development including immunology, autoimmunity, hematology, oncology and infectious diseases.
Oxford, UK -- 1 May 2024 -- Barinthus Biotherapeutics plc (NASDAQ: BRNS), formerly Vaccitech plc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel T-cell immunotherapeutic candidates designed to guide the immune system to overcome chronic infectious diseases, autoimmunity and cancer, today announced the appointment of Leon Hooftman MD, as chief medical officer (CMO).
“We are happy to welcome Dr Hooftman to Barinthus Bio as our chief medical officer. With his experience spearheading clinical studies from early development through late-stage trials, he is a valuable addition to the Barinthus Bio team during a critical time in our growth,” said chief executive officer, Bill Enright. “Dr Hooftman’s background as a clinician and biotech CMO will be invaluable as we advance Barinthus Bio’s extensive pipeline and goals to develop first-in-class therapies for diseases with unmet needs.”
Dr Hooftman brings significant drug development expertise across a broad array of therapeutic areas including oncology, infectious diseases and inflammation. His R&D portfolio includes successful clinical trial programmes that resulted in the development of novel agents: mycophenolate mofetil (transplantation), rituximab (Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma), gemtuzumab ozogamycin (Leukemia) and lipid complex amphotericin B (serious fungal infections). He has held senior management positions at Roche and UCB Celltech and has subsequently been a CMO of several biotechnology companies. He joins Barinthus Bio, from ISA Pharmaceuticals, a specialist immune-oncology company.
“I am pleased to be joining Barinthus Bio at this phase in the company’s trajectory,” said Dr Hooftman. “I am encouraged by the breadth of pipeline the company has established and I look forward to bringing my experience to support the advancement of the T-cell immunotherapeutic candidates to help people living with life-threatening diseases.”
Dr. Hooftman holds a MD from Utrecht State University, Netherlands, and performed his specialist training in Cambridge and London, UK. Dr Hooftman will step into his new role at the beginning of June 2024.
About Barinthus Biotherapeutics
Barinthus Bio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel T-cell immunotherapeutic candidates designed to guide the immune system to overcome chronic infectious diseases, autoimmunity and cancer. Helping people living with serious diseases and their families is the guiding principle at the heart of Barinthus Bio. With a broad pipeline, built around three proprietary platform technologies: ChAdOx, MVA and SNAP; Barinthus Bio is advancing a pipeline of four product candidates across a diverse range of therapeutic areas, including: VTP-300, an immunotherapeutic candidate designed as a potential component of a functional cure for chronic HBV infection; VTP-200, a non-surgical product candidate for persistent high-risk HPV infection; VTP-1000, an autoimmune candidate designed to utilise the SNAP-Tolerance Immunotherapy (TI) platform to treat patients with celiac disease; and VTP-850, a second-generation immunotherapeutic candidate designed to treat recurrent prostate cancer. Barinthus Bio’s proven scientific expertise, diverse portfolio, and focus on pipeline development uniquely positions the company to navigate towards delivering treatments for people with infectious diseases, autoimmunity and cancers that have a significant impact on their everyday lives.
For more information, visit www.barinthusbio.com.
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