Valink Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of bispecific antibody-drug conjugates (bsADCs) to treat cancer and other diseases, has announced the appointment of Martin D. Williams as Chair of its Board of Directors. Additionally, the company has established a distinguished Scientific Advisory Board comprising leaders in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of ADCs and bispecific therapeutics.
Arne Scheu, Co-founder and CEO of Valink, expressed excitement over Williams’ appointment, emphasizing his wealth of experience in biopharmaceutical strategy, development, and partnering. Williams brings over 35 years of expertise in advancing a wide range of therapeutics, from early development through regulatory approval and commercialization. His background includes driving numerous corporate transactions, including partnerships, M&A, and financings worth over $5 billion. This experience aligns closely with Valink’s mission to bring innovative therapeutics to patients.
Williams most recently served as CEO of Caraway Therapeutics, which was acquired by Merck & Co. in 2023. Prior to that, he held senior leadership positions at Tokai Pharmaceuticals, Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, and Synta Pharmaceuticals. At these companies, Williams played a pivotal role in oncology drug development, business development, and commercialization efforts. Earlier in his career, Williams directed the development and launch of several flagship drugs at major pharmaceutical companies, including GSK’s Zantac® and Zofran®, Hoffmann-La Roche’s Xenical®, and Lederle/Wyeth’s Zosyn®/Tazocin®. Williams holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MS from the University of Manchester.
“Valink has developed an innovative approach to unlocking the potential of ADCs, which have been limited by toxicity and target availability. Their technology platform enables rapid generation of bispecific ADCs with significant therapeutic promise, and I’m excited to collaborate with the team as they move forward in advancing their discoveries,” said Williams.
In addition to Williams, Valink has assembled a highly accomplished Scientific Advisory Board to guide the company’s research and development efforts. The members include:
- Sonia Quaratino, MD, PhD: Executive VP and CMO at Innate Pharma, with 25 years of experience in immuno-oncology, previously serving as CMO at Kymab and Georgiamune.
- Marc Damelin, PhD: CSO at Alphina Therapeutics, with extensive expertise in oncology drug discovery and ADC development, including his tenure at Mersana Therapeutics.
- Robert Lutz, PhD: CSO at Iksuda Therapeutics, a leader in ADC development and the first research lead for Kadcyla®, an FDA-approved ADC for solid tumors.
- Antoine Awad: Principal Executive Officer at Synlogic, specializing in bispecific drug development and CMC expertise, with leadership roles at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals and Ipsen Biosciences.
- Mihriban Tuna, PhD: CEO of Immutrin, with a background in drug discovery and development at companies like Adaptate Biotherapeutics and F-star Therapeutics.
- Alexey A. Lugovskoy, PhD: CEO of Diagonal Therapeutics, with a history of leadership in drug discovery and ADC development, who has worked at Dragonfly, Morphic, and Biogen.
Valink’s modular platform enables rapid and cost-effective generation of bispecific ADCs, unlocking a broader range of targets and improving the selectivity and payload delivery of conventional ADCs. The company is based in Boston, Massachusetts, with research operations in London, UK. By addressing the challenges of traditional ADC development, Valink aims to revolutionize cancer treatment and expand its applications in other diseases.
