Prescient Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:PTX) has strengthened its board through the appointment of experienced pharma executive Dr Ellen Feigal as a US-based independent, non-executive director, effective today.
The appointment is expected to benefit the clinical-stage oncology company developing personalised therapies to treat cancer.
“Outstanding addition”
Prescient Therapeutics chairman Steve Engle said, “Ellen is an outstanding addition to our Board of Directors. Her appointment continues to ensure the board has the right mix of skills, diversity and independence.”
Dr Feigal brings a depth of experience in the commercialisation, product development and regulatory strategies of cell therapies, hematology and oncology with her career spanning leadership roles in industry, academia and non-profits.
She is currently a partner and head of the Biologics practice at global life sciences advisory firm, NDA Partners LLC, where she leads efforts in designing and executing product development and regulatory strategies in the areas of cell therapies, medical imaging, hematology and oncology.
Dr Feigal is also adjunct faculty at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, where she teaches FDA drug law and medical research ethics and law.
“Strong track record”
“Ellen is an accomplished industry leader with a strong track record in the commercialisation of new cell-based treatments in the US and globally,” Eagle said.
"Her deep operational understanding of cancer therapy regulatory pathways, manufacturing and markets will be invaluable as Prescient approaches a clinical inflexion point for PTX-100 and progresses its next-generation cancer therapy platforms, OmniCAR and CellPryme.”
Appropriate roles
Dr Feigal was formerly senior vice president overseeing research and development with the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine, a world-leading research foundation working to accelerate development of new disease-modifying treatments and cures for patients with chronic diseases.
She was also executive medical director, Global Development at US biotech company Amgen Inc; vice president of Clinical Sciences at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, and directed the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis at the National Cancer Institute.
Dr Feigal serves as a board member for Xencor Inc, a biotechnology company developing engineered antibodies and cytokines for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.
She is also a director of NextCure, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing new immunotherapies to treat cancer.
“Critical phase”
“I am excited to join the board of Prescient at this critical phase in the company’s journey,” Dr Feigal said.
"I look forward to working with the team to leverage my experience and networks to guide the business through the next phase of its growth, in particular the formative stage of clinical development of PTX-100 and the development of its novel cell therapy platforms within this burgeoning and rapidly evolving field.”
Dr Feigal holds an MD from the University of California, Davis School of Medicine. She completed an internal medicine residency at Stanford University and a hematology oncology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco.