Elsalys Biotech Expands Its Team To Strengthen Its Strategy And The Development Of Its Programs

After having recently enriched its pipeline of therapeutic antibodies in oncology, ElsaLys Biotech strengthens its management team with the arrival of a Chief Medical Officer, a Chief Operating Officer and a Vice President Finance.

Lyon (France), 30 January 2017, ElsaLys Biotech, a fast-growing biotechnology company that designs and develops « best-in-disease » therapeutic antibodies that target tumors and their immune and/or vascular microenvironment, today announces new appointments in its top management team, now complete to support the development of its candidates and its future operations.

Catherine Mathis, Liliane Bronstein and David Liens, join ElsaLys Biotech as Chief Operating Officer, Vice President Finance and Chief Medical Officer, respectively.

Catherine Mathis, PharmD, Chief Operating Officer, has over 25 years' experience in clinical research and regulatory affairs in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, particularly in the fields of immunology and oncology.

Liliane Bronstein, MSG, Vice President Finance, brings to ElsaLys Biotech solid experience in executive management and over 20 years' financial experience within high growth innovative companies.

Finally, David Liens, MD, Chief Medical Officer, brings more than 20 years' experience in the field of drug development and medical affairs in large pharmaceutical groups and biotech growth companies.

"It is a great pleasure to welcome Catherine Mathis and David Liens in our team, at a time when we are increasing the level of our R&D programs and preparing them to enter the clinic. Their respective experience will be essential to drive our accelerated development strategy and we are delighted that they accepted this challenge." states Dr Christine Guillen, CEO and co-founder of ElsaLys Biotech. "Liliane Bronstein's experience in capital raising, IPO and M&A transactions is also essential to support our growth".

Dr Jacques Mizrahi, VP R&D adds: "With these new talents in the team, ElsaLys Biotech will continue to strengthen its portfolio and above all refine its options of clinical development and the choice of their target poplulations. For anti-CD115, on the one hand, which will have to confirm in patient its differentiating mechanism of action on the tumoral microenvironment and whose anti-fibrotic potential could provide an excellent opportunity for an accelerated proof of principle in patients treated with radiotherapy. For anti-CD160, on the other hand, in particular around its immunomodulator potential and its mechanism of action on NK and T cells; here again, the choice of target populations as well as the design of clinical studies in stand alone or in combotherapy will become of utmost importance. "

Biography - Catherine Mathis

Catherine Mathis has acquired strong expertise in the development of innovative products from Phase 1 to Phase 3 with excellent knowledge of European and North American regulation of biologics. She has conducted many projects in development involving interactions with the US health authorities (FDA), European (EMA and national authorities) and the European payers (HTA).

Prior to joining Elsalys Biotech, Catherine served as a senior director for the international consulting firm Voisin Consulting, where she advised several biotech and pharma companies developing innovative products. Catherine also served for several years as Head of Regulatory Affairs at Transgene, a French biotech company developing immunotherapy vaccines based on recombinant viruses.

Catherine Mathis began her career at Ipsen/Beaufour and Sanofi Pasteur in clinical research.

Catherine completed pharmacy studies and then earned a Master degree in applied and basic toxicology from the University of Paris VII.

Biography - Liliane Bronstein

Prior to joining ElsaLys Biotech as a Consultant acting VP Finance, Liliane Bronstein held senior financial positions in various sectors, mainly in listed companies: cleantech, optical devices, IT and entertainment. Her areas of expertise cover finance, financial communication and corporate development of innovative companies.

Her management experience extends from startups to listed multinationals. She has successfully led four IPO, public and private financing rounds in Europe and in the USA, piloted four IPO, as well as several M&A transactions. In May 2016, she set up the consulting firm LB REFLEX specialized in supporting innovative companies in their financial strategy and capital raising.

She holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from the Institute of Business Administration in Lille.

Biography - David Liens

David Liens's field of expertise covers a wide range of pharmaceuticals such as small molecules, biological drugs, therapeutic enzymes or cellular therapies, and diagnostic devices.

Since 2007, David Liens has been involved in conducting several clinical trials in the fields of oncology, onco-hematology (lymphoblastic leukemia, myeloblastic leukemia, lymphoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer and melanoma) and immunotherapy.

Dr Liens has also specialized in the development of orphan drugs with more than a dozen products to his credit (three of which are expected to be validated in the near future).

David Liens started his career as a project manager in a French CRO. He then joined Merck Sérono where he served for 8 years as medical marketing manager for cardiometabolic and niche products. He subsequently served as scientific and clinical director at OPi/EUSA pharma before joining ERYTECH-Pharma in 2008 as medical director.

In January 2012, he set up BPLS-Consulting (for BIO-PHARMA LIFE-SCIENCES CONSULTING) specialized in supporting biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

He is a medical doctor, specialized in clinical research.

About ELSALYS BIOTECH

ElsaLys Biotech is a biotechnology company that designs and develops "best-in-disease" therapeutic antibodies that target tumors and their immune and/or vascular microenvironment. By restoring the ability of immune cells to recognize and kill tumors (Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors or ICI) or by blocking the mechanisms that promote their growth (targeted antibodies), ElsaLys Biotech widens the range of combinations of oncology and ophthalmology in novel strong potential therapeutic targets, two of which are expected to enter clinical trials late 2017.

To identify new targets and to drive its developments up to the clinic, the company relies on an academic network of international standing, that covers from targets sourcing to clinical development of drug candidates, a team of experts with solid experience in immuno-oncology, antibodies development and partnerships, and a comprehensive and integrated R&D platform.Today ElsaLys Biotech has five R&D proprietary development programs in oncology and in ophthalmology.

Founded in 2013, ElsaLys Biotech is managed by Dr Christine Guillen. Its founding shareholders are Transgene and Sofimac Partners, joined in 2015 by IM Europe and Crédit Agricole Création. The company and its laboratories are located in the heart of the Biodistrict Lyon Gerland, Lyon, France.

Further information at www.elsalysbiotech.com

Contacts



ELSALYS BIOTECH
Christine GUILLEN
CEO AND CO-FOUNDER
+33(0)6 37 69 75 15
guillen@elsalysbiotech.com





Press: ATCG Partners
Marie PUVIEUX (France)
+33 (0)6 10 54 36 72
Jean Medhi GRANGEON (UK/US)
+33 (0)6 62 22 00 24
presse@atcg-partners.com

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