BioAtla Appoints Yong Ben, M.D., As Chief Medical Officer
SAN DIEGO, May 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- BioAtla, LLC, a global biotechnology company focused on the development of Conditionally Active Biologic (CAB) antibody therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Yong Ben, M.D., as chief medical officer. Dr. Ben, an experienced biotechnology drug developer in oncology, joins the Company from AstraZeneca, where he was most recently Global Clinical Lead, Immuno-Oncology. His clinical leadership in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies led to several oncology drug approvals including, for AstraZeneca, the most recent approval of a PD-L1 antibody, durvalumab (Imfinzi), for the treatment of urothelial cancer, ixazomib (Ninlaro) in multiple myeloma for Millennium/Takeda, axitinib (Inlyta) in renal cancer for Pfizer, and oncolytic virus H101 in head and neck cancer for SunwayBio.
"Dr. Ben's experience and proven capabilities in leading the clinical development of innovative oncology products over a range of indications greatly enhances BioAtla's ability to design, implement, and execute clinical programs evolving from our CAB platform" said Jay M. Short, Ph.D., chairman, president and chief executive officer of BioAtla.
About Dr. Ben
Dr. Ben joins BioAtla with over 20 years of industry and academic experience in oncology. During his 13 years of increasing responsibility in biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, he has led wide-spectrum clinical development efforts from phase 1 to phase 3 clinical trials, from strategy planning to study execution and BLA/NDA submissions. Prior to his career at AstraZeneca, Dr. Ben was Medical Director, Oncology Clinical Research at Millennium Pharmaceuticals where, in addition to leading the pivotal global phase 3 study for ixazomib in refractory/relapsed multiple myeloma, he was clinical lead in the orteronel and alisertib programs. Prior to that, Dr. Ben was Lead Clinician/Global Medical Monitor, Clinical Development for the Pfizer Oncology Business Unit and earlier was Project Manager, Asia Research & Development for Pfizer Global Research & Development. Dr. Ben began his career in industry with Shanghai Sunway Biotech Co., a leader in the field of oncolytic viruses. Dr. Ben started his career as a surgical oncologist at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute. Dr. Ben received his medical degree from Norman Bethune Medical University and his MBA from the University of California, San Diego.
About Conditionally Active Biologics (CABs)
Conditionally Active Biologic proteins are generated using BioAtla's proprietary protein discovery, evolution and expression technologies. These proteins can be mAbs, enzymes and other proteins designed with functions dependent on changes in microphysiological conditions (e.g., pH level, oxidation, temperature, pressure, presence of certain ions, hydrophobicity and combinations thereof) both outside and inside cells.
Studies have shown that cancerous tumors create highly specific conditions at their site that are not present in normal tissue. These cancerous microenvironments are primarily a result of the well understood unique glycolytic metabolism associated with cancer cells, referred to as the Warburg Effect. CAB proteins are designed to deliver their therapeutic payload and/or recruit the immune response in specific and selected locations and conditions within the body and to be active only in the presence of a particular cellular microenvironment. In addition, the activation is designed to be reversible to repeatedly switch 'on and off' should the CAB move from a diseased to a normal cellular microenvironment and vice versa. CABs can be developed in a variety of formats including antibodies, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), bi-specifics, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-Ts) and combination therapies.
About BioAtla, LLC
BioAtla is a global biotechnology company with operations in San Diego, California, and Beijing, China. BioAtla develops novel monoclonal antibody and other protein therapeutic product candidates designed to have more selective targeting, greater efficacy, and more cost-efficient and predictable manufacturing than traditional antibodies.
Learn more at www.bioatla.com.
Contact:
Richard Waldron
Chief Financial Officer
BioAtla, LLC
rwaldron@bioatla.com
858.356.8945
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SOURCE BioAtla, LLC
