Alphina Therapeutics Welcomes Marc Damelin, Ph.D. as New Chief Scientific Officer

Alphina Therapeutics Strengthens Leadership with New Appointment

Alphina Therapeutics, a forward-thinking biotechnology firm specializing in oncology, has made significant strides in its management team by appointing Dr. Marc Damelin as its new Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Damelin joins the company with a wealth of over 17 years of experience in oncology drug discovery and development. His remarkable track record includes contributions to numerous platform technologies and clinical compounds, which have fostered valuable partnerships within the industry.

Alphina Therapeutics is dedicated to developing innovative NAMPT inhibitors aimed at treating various solid tumors. The company's unique strategy combines novel insights with a synthetic lethality approach, setting its drug candidates apart from others currently in the market. Unlike conventional treatments, Alphina has pioneered a proprietary patient selection assay designed to identify individuals with specific tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, and more, who are more likely to benefit from their targeted therapies.

Dr. Damelin's appointment is timely as Alphina gears up to advance its leading NAMPT inhibitor program into clinical trials. Nick Galli, the CEO of Alphina Therapeutics, expressed enthusiasm about this new addition to the leadership team, emphasizing Dr. Damelin's extensive expertise in drug development. His skills will not only be pivotal in guiding the NAMPT program but will also be essential in exploring new targets and expanding Alphina's therapeutic pipeline.

Before joining Alphina Therapeutics, Dr. Damelin held the role of Vice President and Head of Biology at Mersana Therapeutics, where he was instrumental in advancing several novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technologies and compounds into clinical stages. His efforts have resulted in substantial partnerships, including a landmark asset-based agreement with GSK and platform collaborations with giants like Merck-Serono and Janssen, cumulatively generating over $170 million in upfront payments.

Previously, Dr. Damelin spent a decade at Pfizer, spearheading various oncology research endeavors that transitioned into clinical stages. He was also a driving force behind Pfizer's ADC discovery initiatives.

Reflecting on his new role, Dr. Damelin remarked on the importance of leveraging data-driven strategies in oncology and expressed confidence in Alphina's multifaceted approach to maximizing therapeutic potential. He emphasized the significant progress the company has made in developing compounds capable of overcoming the limitations faced by earlier NAMPT inhibitor programs. The proprietary patient selection assay stands out as a critical innovation, effectively matching drug candidates with the patients most likely to see successful outcomes. Dr. Damelin looks forward to collaborating with the proficient team at Alphina to create and implement a robust development strategy aimed at enhancing both the probability of success and patient benefits.

About Alphina Therapeutics

Alphina Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing state-of-the-art small molecule inhibitors of NAMPT, targeting a diverse range of solid tumors. Founded by leading scientists and supported by a dynamic group of venture capitalists, the company is at the forefront of oncology innovation. Alphina is dedicated to identifying patients whose tumors feature specific genetic perturbations, rendering them exceptionally sensitive to the company's therapeutic candidates. This approach highlights a significant opportunity to improve treatment outcomes for numerous solid tumor patients. For more details, visit Alphina Therapeutics.

Contact Information:
Nick Galli, CEO
Phone: +1 475 655 0541
Email: ngalli@alphinatx.com
Tim Brons, Media Relations
Phone: +1 646 319 8981
Email: tim.brons@vidasp.com