Cyclacel Pharmaceuticals, a Berkeley Heights-based biopharmaceutical company developing medicines based on cancer cell biology, on Tuesday said that, effective immediately Dr. Brian Schwartz will assume the role of interim chief medical officer. Schwartz will succeed Dr. Mark Kirschbaum, whose employment was terminated.
“We are delighted to have Brian join Cyclacel as CMO. His extensive clinical and product development experience in oncology and hematology further adds to the strengths of our team and will support our efforts to build shareholder value,” Spiro Rombotis, CEO and president, said. “Brian’s experience will be instrumental in guiding our team to deliver key value inflection milestones and communicating these to the investment community as we advance our business strategy.”
Schwartz has served as a member of the board of directors of the company since December 2020. He has wide-ranging experience as a drug development expert in biopharmaceutical companies, primarily in oncology, hematology and rare disease indications. From June 2008 to 2020, he served as senior vice president, head of research & development and chief medical officer of ArQule Inc., which was acquired for $2.7 billion by Merck & Co. in 2020.
Prior to ArQule, Schwartz was chief medical officer at Ziopharm, having previously held several senior leadership roles at Bayer and LEO Pharma. He is currently a board member of Enlivex and medical consultant for a number of biotech companies.
