Arovella Therapeutics Ltd (ASX:ALA) has strengthened its operational team with the appointment of experienced biotech executive Dr Nicole van der Weerden as chief operating officer (COO).
Van der Weerden brings more than 15 years of strong leadership experience in the biotechnology industry, driving business objectives including pre-clinical discovery, proof-of-concept, manufacturing and clinical development.
She is taking up the newly created COO role as Arovella enters a pivotal stage of development for its iNKT cell therapy platform, progressing towards first-in-human clinical trials.
“Leading edge of cancer treatment”
Arovella CEO and MD Dr Michael Baker said: “We are extremely pleased that a biotechnology-focused executive of Nicole’s calibre has accepted the COO role.
“Nicole has a wealth of experience in developing biotechnology assets and a strong operational and research background.
“We are embarking on an exciting time in Arovella’s evolution, with multiple programs under development at the leading edge of cancer treatment.
“Nicole’s proven ability to execute will add enormous value as we look to deliver on the goals we have set ourselves for the year ahead.”
Notable achievements
Van der Weerden holds a PhD in biochemistry from La Trobe University and an MBA from Melbourne Business School and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Before this appointment, she was chief operating officer and executive director at the ASX-listed biotechnology company, Hexima Ltd.
Van der Weerden led the strategic pivot of Hexima from an agricultural biotechnology company to a human therapeutics company.
This includes a financing and development strategy, pre-clinical and clinical programs, manufacturing and worldwide patent strategy for Hexima’s lead asset pezadeftide.
Commenting on her appointment, van der Weerden said: “I am thrilled to be joining Arovella at such an exciting time and to be able to work on developing a novel technology with the potential to make a real difference to patients.”