Lion Biotechnologies, a US biotechnology company developing novel cancer immunotherapies based on tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), has hired Maria Fardis as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Fardis succeeds Elma Hawkins, who has been President and CEO since January 2015. Hawkins will continue as an advisor to the Board.
Fardis has extensive experience in drug development and novel cancer treatments. Prior to joining Lion Biotechnologies, she was Chief Operating Officer at Dutch biotech Acerta Pharma, later acquired by AstraZeneca.
Prior to this, Fardis was chief of oncology operations and alliances at Pharmacyclics. She also held a number of scientific and management roles at Gilead Sciences.
In addition, Wayne Rothbaum and Iain Dukes will join the company's Board of Directors with Rothbaum becoming interim Chairman.
Rothbaum is currently President of Quogue Capital, a $500m life sciences investment fund. Prior to starting Quogue in 2001, Rothbaum led the life sciences practice at the consultancy firm The Carson Group. In 2012, he co-founded and was the Executive Chairman and largest investor in Acerta Pharma.
Dukes was formerly SVP, Business Development and Licensing at Merck & Co and oversaw all licensing deals at Merck Research Laboratories. He has more than 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical research, drug discovery, scientific and technology licensing, start-up company leadership, and as a consultant to numerous biotech and venture capital organisations.