20 November 2024
BerGenBio ASA: BerGenBio Appoints Olav Hellebø as CEO
Bergen, Norway, November 20, 2024 – BerGenBio ASA (OSE: BGBIO), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel, selective AXL kinase inhibitors for severe unmet medical needs, announced today the appointment of Olav Hellebø as CEO. Mr. Hellebø will assume the position on November 21, 2024.
Mr. Hellebø brings three decades of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Since 2023, he has served as board director in the clinical stage immuno-oncology company Cytovation ASA, and since 2021 he has been a board director at the clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, Antev Ltd, specializing in urology and oncology treatments. Prior to this, Mr. Hellebø’s experience includes the role as CEO of ReNeuron Group PLC, a UK-based clinical-stage company specializing in cell therapy for ophthalmic and neurology-related diseases, and CEO at Clavis Pharma ASA, an oncology-focused biotech company traded at the Oslo Stock Exchange. Mr Hellebø’s earlier career includes leadership roles at UCB-Celltech, Novartis UK, and at Schering-Plough (now part of Merck & Co.).
“BerGenBio is at the forefront of exploring highly selective AXL inhibition as a therapeutic enhancement for the large number of patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer with mutations in the STK11 gene. I am thrilled to join the company and look forward to collaborating with the board and team to advance the candidate drug, bemcentinib, through the next stages of clinical development and to take BerGenBio to the next phase”, said Olav Hellebø.
“Mr. Hellebø brings a wealth of experience as a leader in pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, with a strong track record of success. His extensive expertise in leading biotech companies, raising capital, and securing partnership deals makes him exceptionally well-suited to guide BerGenBio and to execute on our focused strategy to study STK11m NSCLC patients in our on-going Ph1b/2a BGBC016 trial”, said Chairman of the Board, Anders Tullgren.
Contacts
Anders Tullgren, Chair of the Board, BerGenBio ASA
Rune Skeie, CFO, BerGenBio ASA
Jan Lilleby, Media Relations, BerGenBio ASA
About BerGenBio ASA
BerGenBio is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing transformative drugs targeting AXL as a potential cornerstone of therapy for aggressive diseases, including cancer and severe respiratory infections. The Company is focused on its proprietary lead candidate, bemcentinib, a potentially first-in-class selective AXL inhibitor in development for STK11 mutated NSCLC and severe respiratory infections. BerGenBio is based in Bergen, Norway with a subsidiary in Oxford, UK. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: BGBIO). For more information, visit www.bergenbio.com
This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
About Oncoinvent
Oncoinvent is developing Radspherin®, a receptor-independent alpha radiation therapy that leverages the unique anatomy of the abdominal cavity to destroy residual micrometastases using a single, highly localized dose of alpha radiation. The initial clinical focus is treatment of ovarian and colorectal cancer patients after surgical removal of the primary tumor and visible metastases in the peritoneum, the thin membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering the abdominal organs.
This radiopharmaceutical is designed to prevent or delay recurrence in the peritoneal cavity, keeping patients disease-free for longer than the current standard of care and thereby also impacting overall survival. It is broadly applicable to any cancer that spreads to the peritoneum, e.g. ovarian, colorectal, and gastric cancers. Radspherin® stands out for its simplicity, excellent safety profile, and seamless integration into existing surgical workflows. Oncoinvent’s product is easy to use, avoids systemic delivery and significant toxicity. It is also differentiated in being simple to manufacture, scalable, and supply de-risked.
Data from two trials in ovarian (phase 1) and colorectal (phase 1/2a) cancers, are highly promising, showing an excellent safety profile and meaningful signals of efficacy. Interim data from an ongoing, randomized, controlled phase 2 ovarian cancer trial is expected in 2026. With cost-effective manufacturing, blockbuster potential, active pharma partnership momentum, plus strong endorsements from leading experts, Oncoinvent is built for scale and commercial success, and is set to become the new standard for post-surgical cancer care. The Company was founded by the originators of Algeta and Xofigo (acquired by Bayer).
