Race Oncology Ltd (ASX:RAC) has appointed a 25-year veteran of the biotech space, Dr Daniel Tillett, as CEO, effective today.
In this pivotal role, Dr Tillett will work closely with executive director Dr Peter Smith to steer the company's strategic, clinical and commercialisation efforts, with a primary focus on advancing bisantrene.
25 years in biotech
Dr Tillett is already well acquainted with the cancer-targeting biotech. From September 2019 to March 2023, he served as Race's chief scientific officer and executive director, playing a crucial role in the company's growth and development. After this initial tenure, he continued to contribute to Race in a consultancy capacity.
In addition to his extensive experience with Race and bisantrene, Dr Tillett brings a wealth of knowledge amassed over more than 25 years in the biotechnology industry. He founded and led Nucleics, an Australian biotechnology company specialising in DNA sequencing and genomics.
Subject matter expertise
Dr Tillett's expertise extends into academia – he held a tenured academic position as a senior lecturer within the School of Pharmacy and Applied Science at La Trobe University in Melbourne.
His academic pursuits encompassed a wide range of subjects, from phage therapy (bacterial virology) and pharmacy to environmental microbiology, bioinformatics and cancer research.
“Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to rebalancing the leadership team to ensure we are best positioned to deliver on our primary focus of advancing bisantrene through the clinic,” Race independent non-executive chair Mary Harney said.
“Through this arrangement, Pete will focus on our partnering, business development and institutional outreach strategy, while Daniel will have carriage of clinical strategy, implementation and shareholder engagement.
“Race is now strongly positioned to move the business forward and to implement a clinical plan that will ultimately deliver outcomes for patients and our shareholders.”
"Aligned in our interests"
Executive director Dr Pete Smith said: “It is important to acknowledge everything Daniel has brought to Race over the past five years, most recently as a consultant and previously as the company’s CSO and executive director.
"I thank Daniel for his passion for Race and his enthusiasm in stepping into the CEO role. We are aligned in our interests to move bisantrene forward.”
For his part, the incoming CEO said: “My priority in stepping in as CEO is to ensure the clinical strategy we have for bisantrene is implemented and our promise to shareholders delivered. My belief in bisantrene and its commercial potential has never wavered.
“We have an outstanding team at Race to execute on these opportunities and make a real difference for both patients and shareholders."