OncoSec Medical Inc. in Pennington appointed a new chief operating officer and vice president of business development Feb. 2.
Pharmaceutical industry veteran Brian Leuthner has been named COO and Joe Smith has joined as VP of business development.
“As we continue making progress in the development of our lead product candidate, TAVO™, in multiple ongoing clinical studies for a variety of oncology indications and COVID-19, we are actively seeking opportunities to expand our offering through strategic partnerships that maximize the full therapeutic potential of our technology,” said CEO and President Daniel O’Connor in a prepared statement. “With the additions of Brian and Joe to our executive team, we are looking forward to leveraging their significant strategic, commercial and business development expertise as we work to bring transformative solutions to patients in need and value to our shareholders.”
Leuthner’s 32-year career in biotech and pharmaceuticals most recently includes a year at the helm of Alivio Therapeutics, which focuses on treating inflammatory diseases, after nearly a decade at the helm of Edge Therapeutics Inc., an orphan disease-focused company based in Berkeley Heights which he founded. He led a merger in 2019 of Edge and immune-oncology company PDS Biotechnology. Prior to founding Edge, Leuthner held a variety of additional leadership positions, including Fontus Pharmaceuticals Inc., The Medicines Co., ESP Pharma, Cardinal Health, Johnson & Johnson, Thomas Ferguson Healthcare Advertising Agency and Glaxo Wellcome Co.
Smith was most recently an independent transaction advisor and acting head of business development to multiple biotechnology and specialty pharmaceutical companies, including an antibody-focused start-up, an orphan ophthalmology specialty business and a vaccine technology business focused on COVID-19. He was previously executive director and head of business development and strategy for EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Watertown, Mass. Smith has led or managed business and corporate development functions at three other specialty pharmaceutical companies including Adare Pharmaceuticals, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, and Aton Pharma; and also spent eight years between management consulting and biotechnology equity research.
As of Tuesday, Leuthner will be granted an initial grant of 150,000 stock options and Smith will be granted an initial grant of 35,000 stock options, according to a company announcement.
These stock options will have an exercise price equal to the closing price of OncoSec’s common stock on the date of grant and will be 25% vested on the date of grant, with the remaining 75% vesting quarterly over a two-year period.
