Hookipa appoints new Global Head R&D

Igor Matushansky has been appointed Global Head, Research and Development of Hookipa Biotech

Hookipa Biotech, a company pioneering a new class of immunotherapies for oncology and infectious diseases, today announces the appointment of Igor Matushansky as Global Head, Research and Development.

Matushansky joins Hookipa from Daiichi Sankyo, where he was the Global Head of Translational Development for Oncology.

He led Daiichi Sankyo’s international research unit focused on early oncology therapeutic programs, strategy and development, and was accountable for development activities from post-target identification basic science research to first-in-man trials and proof-of-clinical concept.

Prior to that, Matushansky was at Novartis, where he was Global Head for Clinical and Scientific Development at its Gene and Cell Therapy Unit as well as a Global Clinical Program Lead within Novartis’ Oncology Translational Medicine Unit.

Before being recruited to the pharmaceutical industry, Matushansky was a professor at the Columbia University Medical Center where he ran an independent laboratory and clinic focusing on the molecular biology, translational opportunities and clinical trials in sarcomas.

Currently he is an Adjunct Professor of Medical Oncology, Columbia University. He grew up in New York City where he received his undergraduate B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from Columbia University.

He then went on to attend the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he received his MD as well as a PhD in Molecular Biology. He performed his Internal Medicine residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical Center and then completed a fellowship in Medical Oncology as well as a post-doctoral research fellowship in Cancer Biology at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Commenting on the appointment, Hookipa’s CEO Joern Aldag said: “Matushansky’s valuable experience heading up R&D units at big pharma coupled with his significant immuno-oncology expertise will be transformative to Hookipa as we expand our company from prophylactic to therapeutic immuno-oncology focused therapies.

“His impressive and extensive professional background makes him a perfect fit for our leadership team during an important time in our company’s growth. I look forward to working together to achieve our goals and strategic priorities for 2017 and beyond.”

Matushansky said: “TheraT has real potential both alone and in combination with other immune-modulators and/or targeted therapies to improve not only the current clinical outcomes but the quality of life for a wide array of cancer patients.

“It’s an exciting time to join the Hookipa team and I am very eager to share my experience in drug development to further its mission to help patients.”

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