Invitae (NYSE: NVTA), a leading medical genetics company, is proud to welcome W. Michael Korn, M.D., as its new chief medical officer for oncology. Dr. Korn brings decades of experience in the field of gastrointestinal cancers, and has been instrumental in implementing precision oncology principles in clinical cancer care. He is also credited with designing a novel database on targeted cancer therapeutics. Dr. Korn will begin his new role with Invitae on March 13, 2023.
At Invitae, Dr. Korn is revolutionizing cancer care by leading the medical oncology team to create an integrated portfolio of reliable cancer diagnostics. By leveraging advanced molecular diagnostics and data interpretation, the comprehensive oncology portfolio is designed to identify patients at risk of developing cancer and provide tailored care for those diagnosed. With this revolutionary approach, Dr. Korn is empowering patients to take control of their health and enabling more informed treatment decisions.
Invitae is thrilled to welcome Dr. Korn to our team. His impressive background in both academia and industry, as well as his commitment to advancing precision medicine, will be a valuable asset in achieving our goal of providing somatic testing for cancer patients. With our focus on the Personalized Cancer Monitoring (PCM) assay – which uses circulating tumor DNA to assess prognosis, surveillance, early relapse detection and response to therapy – Dr. Korn’s expertise will be invaluable. He will be a crucial part of our clinical research, test design, physician education and customer service initiatives, providing support to oncology providers and patients.
Dr. Korn has been a driving force in advancing precision oncology through the development of AI-driven molecular signatures. Prior to joining Invitae, Dr. Korn served as chief medical officer at Caris Life Sciences from 2017 to 2022 and remains on faculty at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) as a clinical professor (volunteer) in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. His expertise and dedication have been crucial in the advancement of clinical and translational research in oncology.
At UCSF, Dr. Korn was a pioneer in the field of precision oncology, founding and leading the Precision Oncology Initiative and the Molecular Tumor Board. His laboratory focused on developing new, systems-biology-based combination therapies for cancer, and his research has been published in more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. In addition, he was the lead investigator for multiple clinical trials exploring treatments for advanced cancers. His work striving for innovative cancer treatments has impacted countless lives and has made a lasting impact in the medical field.
I am beyond thrilled to join Invitae and contribute to the advancement of precision oncology for the benefit of our patients. Invitae is uniquely poised to expand its leading position in germline hereditary cancer testing, making it possible for oncologists to provide more accurate prognoses, monitor remissions more closely, detect relapses that require changes in therapy more quickly, and identify targets for precision cancer therapy. This will enable improved clinical care during a patient’s entire cancer journey. I am immensely excited to be part of the company’s mission to revolutionize oncology.
Dr. Korn is an international medical leader, having earned his medical degree from the Philipps University Marburg and graduating from the University of Düsseldorf in Germany. He then went on to complete his internal medicine and medical oncology training at the renowned West German Cancer Center – University Hospital Essen, and is board certified in both areas. His impressive medical journey began in his native Germany, and his expertise has since been sought out worldwide.
Invitae is pleased to grant Dr. Korn, in reliance on the employment inducement exemption under Rule 303A.08, 260,000 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) under its 2015 Stock Incentive Plan. This plan will be amended and restated, adding 260,000 shares of Invitae common stock to a pool of shares under the 2015 Plan which is to be used exclusively for the grant of inducement awards. These RSUs, subject to approval by Invitae’s Board of Directors, will vest on each of the first three anniversaries of May 15, 2023, contingent upon Dr. Korn’s continued service with Invitae. The terms and conditions of the RSUs will be outlined in the 2015 Plan and applicable form of stock award agreement.
About Invitae
Invitae (NYSE: NVTA) is transforming the way medical genetics is understood and used. By providing timely and accurate genetic information, simplified with digital technology, Invitae is empowering individuals and their families with powerful, personalized insights that can help improve and extend their lives. Our genetics experts take a meticulous approach to data and research, enabling us to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medicine and improve healthcare for billions of people.