BerGenBio ASA (OSE: BGBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative AXL kinase inhibitors to address severe unmet medical needs, is proud to announce the formation of an esteemed scientific advisory board. This board is comprised of four internationally renowned experts in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from leading oncology centers worldwide. The board will provide invaluable guidance to advance the development of bemcentinib for the treatment of NSCLC patients with STK11 mutations (STK11m).
We are thrilled and humbled to have gathered a team of renowned international experts in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to assist us in our exploration of bemcentinib in 1st line NSCLC STK11m in conjunction with current standards of care.
Despite groundbreaking advances in immuno-oncology treatments, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Patients with STK11m, which accounts for roughly 20% of non-squamous NSCLC cases, almost always have high levels of AXL activation and thus demonstrate poor response rates to the current standard of care treatment of anti-PD-1/L1 combined with chemotherapy. To tackle this challenge, BerGenBio has developed bemcentinib, a selective inhibitor of AXL, as a potential way to sensitize STK11m NSCLC patients to checkpoint inhibitors and increase the efficacy of chemotherapy. A global Phase 1a/2b trial has been initiated to evaluate the effect of bemcentinib in combination with the standard of care in 1st line NSCLC patients with STK11m.
Members of the BerGenBio NSCLC Scientific Advisory Board:
Enriqueta Felip, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Enriqueta Felip is a true leader in thoracic cancer care and research. As Head of the Thoracic Cancer Unit at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital in Spain, she is responsible for all aspects of malignancy management and clinical trials. Additionally, she serves as President of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) 2021-23 and is a member of the Spanish Lung Cancer Group (SLCG). Dr. Felip is also a Professor of Medicine at the Universitat de Vic and was previously on the Board of Directors of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). She holds an M.D. and Ph.D. from Autonomous University of Barcelona.
John Heymach, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. John Heymach is a leading figure in cancer research, having earned multiple awards for excellence in basic science, translational research and mentoring. He currently serves as the Chair of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas, where he is a co-leader of the MD Anderson Lung Cancer Moon Shot and a Principal Investigator of lung cancer programs funded by the NCI, LUNGevity and AACR. With a background in both medicine and science, Dr. Heymach earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from Stanford University and holds the David Bruton Endowed Chair in Cancer Research.
Tony Mok, M.D., BMSc
Dr. Tony Mok is a beacon of hope in the world of oncology. A professor and chairman of the Department of Clinical Oncology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Dr. Mok is renowned for his pioneering work in advancing precision medicine for advanced lung cancer. He co-founded the Lung Cancer Research Group, served as the associate editor for thoracic oncology for the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and is a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Dr. Mok has also been honored with the ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award, and notably served as former President of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC). Dr. Mok holds an M.D. and BMSc from the University of Alberta, Canada.
Solange Peters, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Solange Peters is an esteemed Professor and Head of Medical Oncology and Thoracic Malignancies at Lausanne University in Switzerland. She is building a translational program in collaboration with molecular oncology laboratories, and was recently the President of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2020-22. Additionally, Dr. Peters is an IASLC Board member, co-chair of the Swiss Lung Cancer Research Group, Associate Editor of the Annals of Oncology and Deputy Editor of Lung Cancer. With a M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Lausanne, Dr. Peters is a leader in her field and a true trailblazer in the fight against lung cancer.