FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Syncromune, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of SYNC-T™, a groundbreaking platform technology that synchronizes in situ neoantigen T cell education and immunostimulation via a drug/device combination therapy, proudly announces the appointment of Jonathan Lewis, M.D., Ph.D., a leader and pioneer in immune therapies, to its executive management team as Chief Medical Officer.
“SYNC-T™ for solid tumor therapy has the potential to be a game changer, much like CAR T cells have been for leukemias and lymphomas,” said Dr. Lewis. “I am joining an exceptional convergence of clinical expertise, patient understanding and deep human caring, with a spectacular team of diversely talented people who are dedicated to revolutionizing cancer care. It is an honor, a privilege, and an exhilarating opportunity to be able to contribute to this remarkable technology and team. The initial clinical results in patients with solid cancers are truly amazing.”
Dr. Lewis brings extensive experience leading global translational and clinical research in the field of cancer and immunotherapies. Previously, he served as the Executive Chairman, CEO, and Chief Medical Officer of Ziopharm Oncology from 2004 to 2015, where he led the development of novel immunotherapies for metastatic cancers. Prior to Ziopharm, Dr. Lewis held the positions of Chairman and Chief Medical Officer of Antigenics, Inc, a company focused on personalized therapeutic vaccines for cancers, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders. His exceptional leadership skills have made him a sought-after board member, currently serving as Chairman of three boards and Director of two others.
At Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, Dr. Lewis made significant contributions as an attending surgeon in the Department of Surgery and as an attending physician in the Clinical Immunology Service, Division of Hematologic Oncology. He also held a professorship at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Dr. Lewis holds an M.D. from Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg and a Ph.D. from Yale University. He has received extensive training at The Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh, Cambridge University, and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Dr. Lewis’ remarkable achievements also include raising over 1 billion US dollars in equity, nonprofit and government funding, as well as, leading companies to valuations in the multi billions. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious honors and awards in medicine and science, including the ASCO Young Investigator Award, the Kristen Carr Fellowship, the Yale University Ohse Fellowship, the Royal College of Surgeons Trubshaw Medal, the University of Cambridge Churchill Fellowship, the inaugural Kristen Ann Carr Fellowship, and the Sarcoma Foundation of America Hope and Vision Award.
Eamonn Hobbs, President and CEO of Syncromune expresses utmost confidence in Dr. Lewis' appointment, stating, “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Lewis to our executive team. His unparalleled and extensive leadership experience at both publicly traded and private companies, unwavering dedication, and exceptional track record in advancing immunotherapies for cancer make him an invaluable addition to our organization. With Dr. Lewis’ leadership, we are poised to unlock new frontiers in solid tumor therapy and make a profound impact on patients' lives.”
“Jon is an extremely accomplished physician and researcher and brings deep expertise in immuno-oncology drug development,” said Charles Link, M.D., Executive Chairman of Syncromune. “As we enter our next phase of growth, his leadership and expertise will be a critical component to driving our success as we move forward.”
About Syncromune®
Syncromune is a privately held, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of an in situ platform drug technology optimized for solid tumor cancers that achieves the CAR T like efficacy demonstrated in liquid tumors. The company is currently developing SYNC-T™, a novel platform technology that uses a drug/device combination therapy. The platform is designed to achieve personalized T cell education, enabling the immune system to recognize and attack cancer throughout the body. The first 2 candidates, SV-101 and SV-102 are currently in Confirmatory Phase 1 trials. Syncromune is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA. For more information, please visit www.syncromune.com.
About SYNC-T™
Syncromune® is developing SYNC-T™, a disruptive personalized in situ platform drug immunotherapy to educate T cells and stimulate the immune system to treat metastatic solid tumors where other therapies have failed. SYNC-T utilizes a combination approach of tumor activation and targeted delivery, aiming to synchronize the timing and location of tumor antigen release with the functional activation of immune cells. To achieve tumor activation, a portion of a target tumor is lysed to generate immunogenic cell death and the release of Damage Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) and tumor antigens, changing the tumor microenvironment by creating an in situ vaccine. The second component of the platform, targeted delivery, involves the intratumoral infusion of a proprietary fixed-dose combination drug with 4 active ingredients into the lysed portion of the tumor. This is designed to activate the immune system and combat immune suppression, resulting in patient-specific T cell education. The expansion of anti-cancer specific T cells can recognize and destroy cancer in the treated tumor as well as in metastases throughout the body.
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