#United States #Houston #Immunotherapy #Diakonos Oncology #Donna Rill

Diakonos Oncology Expands Leadership Team

In a strategic move to bolster its leadership, Diakonos Oncology Corp. has appointed Donna Rill as the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). This decision comes as the company, recognized for its pioneering work in the field of cancer immunotherapies, aims to enhance its technological capabilities amid its rapid growth.

A Leader in Cellular Therapy

Donna Rill is highly regarded for her extensive background in cellular therapy manufacturing. With decades of experience, Ms. Rill has honed her skills in designing and scaling facilities that comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Her career has spanned leadership roles at Triumvira Immunologics and Cell Medica, among others, where she played vital roles in designing cutting-edge laboratories focused on cell and gene therapies.

Jay Hartenbach, the President and Chief Operating Officer of Diakonos, expressed confidence in Rill's expertise, stating, “With Donna, we gain an exceptional leader who couples long-term vision with operational precision.” Her ability to translate innovative scientific concepts into practical, scalable manufacturing processes is seen as critical as Diakonos Oncology ramps up production of DOC1021, their flagship product.

Advancing DOC1021 Production

DOC1021, also known as Dubodencel, represents a significant advancement in cancer treatments: a double-loaded autologous dendritic cell therapy that combines tumor lysate with amplified tumor-derived mRNA. This groundbreaking therapy is uniquely tailored to each patient, utilizing their dendritic cells and enhancing them with mRNA and proteins extracted from their tumors. With this innovative approach, Diakonos aims to stimulate a robust immune response to combat aggressive cancers.

Donna Rill's role will also involve overseeing the collaboration with Cellipont Bioservices, Diakonos' contract development and manufacturing organization. The company has recently celebrated the successful production of the first doses intended for a Phase 2 clinical trial of DOC1021, setting the stage for its potential to bring innovative solutions to patients.

Commitment to Patient-Centric Innovations

On her appointment, Rill noted, “Joining Diakonos presents a unique opportunity to work with a highly accomplished leadership team and to help expand the company's manufacturing capabilities. There’s real momentum behind the science, and I’m looking forward to supporting the scale-up needed to deliver these innovative cell therapies to patients with urgent need.”

With Rill at the helm of technology development, Diakonos plans to push further into the clinical landscape. Furthermore, the company is currently running an active trial for DOC1021 targeting pancreatic cancer, and it has also secured Fast Track designations from the FDA for both glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer treatments in the past year.

Future Prospects

The appointment of Donna Rill signals Diakonos Oncology’s commitment to staying at the forefront of cancer therapy innovation. As they expand their leadership team, the company is positioned to tackle critical challenges in oncology and address unmet medical needs for patients grappling with late-stage and aggressive cancers.

In summary, Diakonos Oncology is on an ambitious path towards revolutionizing cancer immunotherapy, and with Donna Rill’s expertise, they hope to enhance their impact on patient care and treatment outcomes across the healthcare landscape. For more information about their ongoing clinical trials and innovative therapies, visit Diakonos Oncology.