Carina Biotech’s four-member Medical Advisory Board will advise us as we prepare to take our LGR5-targeted CAR-T cell for advanced colorectal cancer into the clinic over the next 12-18 months.

Chaired by Carina’s Chief Medical Advisor, Dr José Iglesias, the board comprises key opinion leaders in oncology/CAR-T cell therapy in Australia and overseas.

Dr Iglesias has 30+ years’ experience designing and leading all phases of oncology clinical trials. Past positions include Associate Director of Clinical Research (Eli Lilly Canada), Oncology Medical Director (AMGEN), Chief Medical Officer (Abraxis Biosciences, Bionomics, Biothera and Senti Biosciences) and VP, Clinical Development (Celgene).

Associate Professor Jayesh Desai is a medical oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne and recently appointed Associate Director Clinical Research. A/Prof Desai has extensive experience in translational research applied to early drug development, particularly in colorectal cancer and sarcomas.

Dr Scott Kopetz is a medical oncologist specialising in gastrointestinal malignancies and Professor in the Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology in the Division of Cancer Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre. Dr Kopetz is Chair of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Colon Cancer Task Force.

Dr Roisin O’Cearbhaill is a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, with a primary focus on patients with ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancers. She is the Research Director for the Gynecologic Oncology Service and the Clinical Director for Solid Tumor Malignancies, Cellular Therapy Center. Her research initiatives include the development of novel immune-based and cellular therapies.

Dr Iglesias said of the newly formed board: “Carina is fortunate to count as clinical advisory board members Drs Kopetz. O’Cearbhaill and Desai. Their combined international expertise in immune cellular therapies and the treatment of colorectal cancer will ensure the best support for the clinical development of Carina’s anti-LGR5 CAR-T cells.”