NeoPhore Limited, a company specializing in small molecule neoantigen immuno-oncology therapies, has appointed Michael Shih as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and as a member of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. This appointment marks a significant milestone as the company advances its development pipeline.
Michael Shih brings almost 20 years of expertise in business development, licensing, and mergers & acquisitions. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Corporate Development at Kite Pharma, where he successfully led multiple strategic business opportunities. Prior to his role at Kite, Shih was Senior Vice President, Head of Business Development at Biogen, where he managed the team responsible for sourcing, structuring, and executing high-impact collaborations and acquisitions. He has also held senior leadership roles at Sanofi as Vice President and Head of Global Transactions, and at Epizyme, Forest Laboratories, and Eisai.
Robert James, Chairman of NeoPhore’s Board of Directors, commented, “Michael joins NeoPhore at an exciting time in our development, particularly following our successful Series B financing round, which included support from Bristol Myers Squibb. As we move closer to advancing into clinical trials, Michael’s extensive experience in corporate development in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors will be vital to accelerating NeoPhore’s growth and advancing our strategy.”
Michael Shih expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, saying, “NeoPhore’s innovative approach to targeting the MMR (mismatch repair) pathway presents significant potential for transforming cancer treatment. I am excited to collaborate with the talented NeoPhore team as we work together to advance the company’s promising pipeline and bring novel therapies to cancer patients.”
Shih’s background also includes a legal career. He is an attorney by training and has held senior legal positions at major law firms in New York and in-house at Eisai Inc., where he focused on licensing, corporate transactions, and litigation.
NeoPhore is developing a cutting-edge pipeline of small molecule drugs designed to target proteins involved in the MMR pathway. This pathway has been shown to enhance the efficacy and durability of immunotherapies, which are rapidly transforming cancer treatment. The company’s approach aims to leverage the generation of cancer neoantigens in tumors, enabling the patient’s immune system to effectively fight cancer by overcoming its natural defense mechanisms.
The recent appointment of Shih as CEO follows the successful completion of NeoPhore’s oversubscribed Series B financing round. This funding, combined with Shih’s appointment, positions NeoPhore for strong growth and enables the company to continue to develop its unique immuno-oncology therapies. The company’s goal is to harness the power of the MMR pathway to create next-generation treatments that improve clinical outcomes for cancer patients.
About NeoPhore Ltd.
NeoPhore, based in the UK, focuses on discovering and developing novel small molecule therapies to treat cancer by stimulating the immune system. The company targets the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway, which plays a crucial role in generating neoantigens that prompt the immune system to attack cancer cells. NeoPhore’s innovative approach aims to improve the efficacy of immunotherapies and create better clinical outcomes for patients. The company was spun out of the University of Turin and PhoreMost Ltd. by the CRT Pioneer Fund.
