SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TheRas, Inc. d/b/a BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics (“BBOT” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage precision oncology company, has announced the appointment of Yong (Ben) Ben, MD, as Chief Medical and Development Officer. In this new role, Dr. Ben will oversee BBOT’s ongoing clinical programs, driving the development and delivery of new therapies for cancer patients. These include BBO-8520, BBO-10203, and BBO-11818.
“Ben is a highly accomplished leader with an outstanding record in drug development,” said Eli Wallace, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of BBOT. “His extensive experience in accelerating the development of innovative cancer therapeutics will be invaluable as we advance our clinical programs. We are thrilled to have him join our team and look forward to working together to bring new treatments to patients in need.”
Dr. Ben joined BBOT in September 2024, bringing more than 25 years of experience in research and development across the entire life cycle of drug development, from early- to late-stage and through commercialization. He has been instrumental in the approval of more than 10 molecules in more than 20 indications, covering various modalities including small molecules, biologics, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
Prior to joining BBOT, Dr. Ben was a Venture Partner at Eight Roads Venture, a venture capital firm backed by Fidelity, and served as acting Chief Executive Officer of AlphaGen, a radiopharmaceutical biotech incubated by ERVC and F-Prime Capital. His previous roles include Chief Medical Officer, solid tumors, at BeiGene from 2019 to 2022, and Chief Medical Officer at BioAtla from 2017 to 2019. At AstraZeneca, Dr. Ben was the Global Clinical Leader of Immuno-Oncology Clinical Development, where he led the approval of IMFINZI® (durvalumab) in urothelial cancer. His career highlights also include the approval of NINLARO® (ixazomib) in multiple myeloma at Millennium Pharmaceuticals and INLYTA® (axitinib) in renal cancer at Pfizer. He also currently sits on the board at Corbus Pharmaceuticals.
Dr. Ben began his career as a surgical oncologist at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at California Pacific Medical Center. He holds a medical degree from Norman Bethune College of Medicine, and an MBA from the University of California, San Diego.
“I am excited to join Eli Wallace and the talented team at BBOT,” said Dr. Ben. “BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics is the perfect setting to apply my experience in drug development to accelerate new, meaningful therapeutics to patients afflicted with cancer. I look forward to contributing to the advancement of our clinical programs and making a significant impact on patient care.”
About TheRas, Inc. d/b/a BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics (BBOT)
BridgeBio Oncology Therapeutics (BBOT) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing a next generation pipeline of novel small molecule therapeutics targeting RAS and PI3K malignancies. Initially formed as a subsidiary of BridgeBio, BBOT completed a $200M private financing with external investors in 2024 with the goal of improving outcomes for patients with cancers driven by the two most prevalent oncogenes in human tumors. For more information visit bridgebiooncology.com.
