PhotonPharma names new CEO as ovarian cancer drug trial launches – BizWest

FORT COLLINS – PhotonPharma Inc., which specializes in tumor-specific immunotherapies, has hired Derek Brown as its new CEO as the company prepares to launch a trial of its ovarian cancer drug candidate.

Brown, previously head of global commercial development at Rallybio Corp. (Nasdaq: RLYB), takes over from previous CEO Alan Rudolph, who will remain a member of PhotonPharma's board of directors.

PhotonPharma closed a $2.5 million seed funding round in August to fund the first phase of a clinical trial for Innocell.

The fundraiser took place in February US Food and Drug Administration approval to advance the study of autologous cell-based vaccine therapy for patients with stage III/IV ovarian cancer.

The study is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.

The vaccine therapy used in the study is manufactured at the City of Hope Cancer Care Center in Los Angeles.

“It is an honor to lead PhotonPharma at such a pivotal time in the company’s journey,” Brown said in a prepared statement. “PhotonPharma's differentiated and novel cancer immunotherapy programs hold promise for improving outcomes for patients with solid tumors. I look forward to working closely with the talented team and with City of Hope as we prepare to launch our first Phase 1 study.”

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