Noxopharm Ltd (ASX:NOX) has appointed its chief medical officer Dr Gisela Mautner as its new chief executive officer (CEO).
NOX is an Australian clinical-stage drug development company focused on the treatment of cancer and cytokine release syndrome (septic shock). Its first pipe-line drug candidate Veyonda® is in Phase 2 clinical trialling.
Veyonda® has two main drug actions – a moderating effect on the ceramide/sphingosine-1-phosphate balance and inhibition of STING/TBK1 signalling.
Dr Mautner will take charge from current CEO Dr Graham Kelly from February 1, 2022, and will build a team to oversee Noxopharm’s clinical development program.
Dr Kelly remains as the company’s largest shareholder and will remain on the board as a non-executive director.
“The company is in the process of transiting from an early-stage biotech company into a serious bio-pharma company looking to make its mark on the world stage," Dr Kelly said.
"I made the decision several months ago that 2022 was the time for a generational change and time to hand over to someone with large pharma industry experience who could oversee the company position itself as a valuable partnering opportunity.
"Having worked alongside Gisela for several years now, I have full confidence in her ability to achieve that objective. I believe she will make an outstanding CEO.”
He said: “As the company’s largest shareholder, ongoing board member and inventor of much of the company’s intellectual property, I intend to remain actively involved in the company’s future.”
Dr Mautner will not only act as CEO, she will also serve on the board as executive managing director.
“Noxopharm is a unique company. I feel very honoured to be chosen as its next CEO and I am excited to lead the company through its next stages,” Dr Mautner said.
“I look forward to working with the board and the talented team at Noxopharm to deliver success and value for our many stakeholders. A new department head is being appointed to oversee the delivery of our Clinical Development Program.”
Both Dr Mautner and Dr Kelly have the full support of the board in this transition.
Noxopharm non-executive chairman Fred Bart said, “Graham has, with the full support of the board, chosen to transition from the CEO/MD role and has accepted the board’s invitation to continue as a non-executive director and as a consultant to support Gisela as required.
“The board would like to thank Graham for his unrelenting dedication and commitment to Noxopharm and welcomes his ongoing contribution. The board regards Gisela as an outstanding successor and is confident in her ability to create and advance significant shareholder value in the years ahead.”
About Dr Mautner
Dr Mautner is a medical doctor with extensive pharmaceutical industry experience covering all aspects from clinical research through to product commercialisation.
She has held senior leadership positions at MSD, Bayer and Amgen where she successfully launched several new drugs in different therapeutic areas. In her early career Dr Mautner worked as a clinical scientist at the National Institutes of Health in the USA.
She received her MD and PhD in Medicine from the two top ranking universities in Germany. Dr Mautner has a Master’s degree in Public Health from Harvard University and an MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.
Dr Mautner is deeply engaged with the pharmaceutical community and has served on the Executive Committee of APPA (Australian Pharmaceutical Medical and Scientific Professionals Association) for numerous years.
She recently handed over her presidency of APPA and continues to serve in the role of past president to promote excellence within the pharmaceutical community.
Dr Mautner joined Noxopharm three years ago and has served as the chief medical officer, overseeing the implementation of the company’s clinical programs.