TORL BioTherapeutics Welcomes Dr. Anna Berkenblit to Its Board to Drive Innovation in Cancer Therapies

TORL BioTherapeutics Appoints Dr. Anna Berkenblit to Board

Amid advancing its clinical-stage initiatives, TORL BioTherapeutics LLC has recently appointed Dr. Anna Berkenblit, MD, MMSc, to its Board of Directors. This strategic move is poised to elevate the company’s efforts in creating innovative antibody-based immunotherapies aimed at improving the lives of cancer patients.

Dr. Berkenblit is recognized globally for her impactful contributions as both a clinician and an industry leader, particularly noted for her role in the clinical development of modern treatment options for ovarian cancer patients. Mark J. Alles, Chairman and CEO of TORL, expressed enthusiasm about Dr. Berkenblit's addition, highlighting her pivotal input in advancing cancer research and treatment methodologies.

Dr. Berkenblit boasts over 20 years of experience dedicated to the clinical development of groundbreaking anticancer therapies. As the current Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN), she leads scientific strategies through an array of studies and initiatives focusing on health data, research grants, and patient services. Her extensive background also includes a previous role as Chief Medical Officer at ImmunoGen, where she oversaw the creation of an innovative antibody-drug conjugate designed for patients dealing with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Expressing her enthusiasm about joining the TORL team, Dr. Berkenblit remarked, "I am thrilled to add my experience in developing novel cancer therapeutics to the TORL Board. I look forward to collaborating with other board members and management to expand onboarding progress into a prospective oncology powerhouse."

Highlighting the timely nature of her expertise, Co-founder Dennis Slamon, MD, PhD, mentioned that Dr. Berkenblit's industry insights could significantly bolster TORL's pipeline of next-generation therapeutic agents. TORL has focused on developing its lead candidate, TORL-1-23, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting Claudin 6 in solid tumors, a move welcomed by the board and executive teams.

Prior to her current role at PanCAN, Dr. Berkenblit held senior positions at H3 Biomedicine and Aveo Oncology. Her career progression included responsibilities at Wyeth/Pfizer, where she operated as Vice President and Asset Team Leader, honing her skills in clinical research and development across various oncology projects.

Dave Licata, Co-founder and President of TORL, noted that Dr. Berkenblit's successful management of the ADC targeting the folate receptor alpha is invaluable to TORL's ongoing clinical trials. Currently, the company is focused on the registrational Phase 2 CATALINA-2 trial for its innovative antidote therapy, highlighting its role as a leading priority in TORL's 2025 agenda.

Dr. Berkenblit is an alumnus of Harvard Medical School, where she earned her MD. Furthermore, she obtained her Master of Medical Sciences at Harvard/MIT Health Sciences Technology. She has also undergone an impactful internship and residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital, followed by a hematology/oncology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

The CATALINA-2 trial offers a unique insight into the advanced clinical landscape TORL is navigating. The study aims to assess the efficacy of TORL-1-23 in women with Claudin 6-positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, utilizing a randomized, open-label approach. These developments underscore TORL's commitment to patient-centric research and its striving goal of improving treatment pathways for malignancies where advancements are urgently needed.

TORL BioTherapeutics operates with a clear mission to revolutionize cancer therapy through cutting-edge antibody technology. Their ongoing partnership with the Slamon Research Lab at UCLA empowers TORL to exclusively develop innovative biological drugs that target promising cancer pathways, setting a strong foundation for patient-oriented care in oncology.

With Dr. Berkenblit's expertise and vision, TORL BioTherapeutics is positioned to strengthen its leadership in the realm of oncology-focused biopharmaceuticals and embark on a journey towards future breakthroughs in cancer treatment.