OncoSec Medical Inc., a Pennington-based cancer immunotherapy company, has named a chief clinical development officer to oversee the company’s trial of a product that is designed to work with Merck’s Keytruda to fight melanoma.
Sandra Aung will serve as senior vice president as well as chief clinical development officer, and will oversee both the “Keynote-695” Phase 2b trial of the interleukin-12 product Tavo, as well as additional clinical trials related to Tavo.
“OncoSec’s unique IL-12 plasmid and gene delivery platform has the potential to become a life-extending treatment option for patients diagnosed with cancer where current therapies have proven insufficient,” Aung said in a prepared statement. “I am particularly excited to be joining the company as it prepares to report new clinical data for the Keynote-695 trial in November.”
Aung, who has more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, has held leadership positions at companies including Nektar Therapeutics, UbiVac Inc. and Cell Genesys Inc., among others.
“Prior to joining OncoSec, Dr. Aung was an integral part of the development of Nektar Therapeutics’ lead clinical compound, pegylated interleukin-2, in combination with immune checkpoint therapies for multiple solid tumors,” CEO and President Daniel J. O’Connor said in a statement. “She led the effort in achieving ‘Breakthrough Therapy Designation’ for their melanoma therapy, which resulted in their transformational deal with Bristol-Myers Squibb.”
She replaces Kellie Malloy, chief operating officer and CCDO, who is leaving the company for a new opportunity.
“We greatly benefited from Kellie’s experience and guidance in the advancement of Keynote-695 and other clinical programs,” O’Connor said. “We wish her all the best in her new endeavor.”
