DOYLESTOWN, PA — Aprea Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: APRE) announced the appointment of Nadeem Q. Mirza, M.D., M.P.H., as its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective May 1, 2024. Dr. Mirza, who has been contributing to Aprea’s senior team as a consultant since February 2023, will now take on a leading role in advancing the company’s clinical pipeline, particularly as it prepares to launch APR-1051, an oral WEE1 inhibitor aimed at treating various cancers.
Dr. Oren Gilad, President and CEO of Aprea, highlighted the timing of Dr. Mirza’s formal inclusion in the team as pivotal. “Aprea is at a critical point of enriching and expanding its clinical programs,” he noted, emphasizing Dr. Mirza’s extensive background in oncology and drug development as vital for the company’s next phase.
Dr. Mirza brings over three decades of experience in the medical field, with a focus on solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. His career has spanned significant leadership roles across large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Notably, his achievements include overseeing early-phase drug development in oncology at Salarius Pharmaceuticals and managing the global launch of Venclexta® while at Abbvie Oncology.
In recognition of Dr. Mirza’s appointment and to encourage his long-term commitment to Aprea, the Company’s Board of Directors granted him stock options to purchase 26,920 shares of common stock and 6,730 restricted stock units (RSUs). These compensatory measures, granted outside of the company’s 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, are designed to align Dr. Mirza’s interests with those of the company and its shareholders. The options and RSUs come with specific vesting schedules to ensure Dr. Mirza’s continued service and contribution to Aprea’s success.
This appointment comes at a crucial juncture for Aprea Therapeutics, as it seeks to leverage its expanding clinical pipeline to drive growth and innovation in cancer treatment. With Dr. Mirza at the helm of its clinical development strategy, Aprea aims to enhance its position in the competitive landscape of oncology drug development, paving the way for groundbreaking treatments that could significantly impact patients’ lives worldwide.
The introduction of APR-1051 into clinical trials under Dr. Mirza’s guidance is particularly noteworthy because it represents Aprea’s ambition to lead in the development of therapies targeting the WEE1 protein, which plays a critical role in DNA repair processes. By inhibiting WEE1, APR-1051 could potentially make cancer cells more susceptible to existing treatments, offering new hope for patients with few other options.
Dr. Mirza’s extensive experience and proven track record in oncology drug development are expected to significantly contribute to Aprea’s strategic goals, potentially accelerating the delivery of novel cancer therapies to the market.
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