Clinical stage biopharma Avacta Group has announced the appointment of Christina Coughlin, PhD, as Non-executive Director to the board with immediate effect.
Dr Coughlin is the CEO of CytoImmune Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotechnology company, and has a broad background in biotechnology and global pharmaceuticals. She has drug development experience spanning programmes in pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) studies through late-stage trials and regulatory approval filings, and a track record of building drug development teams in global companies.
Coughlin previously served as CMO to Rubius Therapeutics, where she led the clinical development, translational medicine and regulatory efforts for the company’s programmes emerging from its allogeneic red cell therapy platform. Prior to Rubius, she was CMO with Tmunity Therapeutics, and was responsible for the development of autologous CAR-T and TCR-T cellular therapies.
Coughlin received her MD and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr Christina Coughlin, said: “I find the Affimer and pre|CISION platforms to be highly innovative in the oncology field. I look forward to joining the board and working with my new colleagues and the Avacta management team to develop novel therapies that will improve the lives of patients suffering from cancer.”
Dr Alastair Smith, CEO of Avacta Group, said: “I am very pleased, indeed, to welcome Christina to Avacta and the board. Christina is a vastly experienced biotech executive and oncologist, and Avacta will benefit greatly from her knowledge and expertise in shaping the future strategy for the therapeutic business.”
