Dr. Gaweco will lead APEIRON’s rapidly advancing immuno-oncology programs and oversee the discovery, clinical and medical functions of the Company’s growing new molecular entities pipeline of innovative cancer immunotherapies. Dr. Gaweco has a successful worldwide track record across the full lifecycle of drug development from discovery through commercialization both in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Peter Llewellyn-Davies, President and CEO of APEIRON Biologics, said: "I am delighted that Dr. Gaweco is joining our team. His timely appointment will help chart the continued innovation of our R&D pipeline of cutting-edge cancer immunotherapies, bring forward major near-term milestones of clinical-stage assets and support the expansion and transformative phase of APEIRON. His outreach into the worldwide pharmaceutical markets will support the long-term vision and strategy of APEIRON as a leader in cancer immunotherapies."
Dr. Manfred Reichl, Chairman of APEIRON’s Supervisory Board, commented: "We very much welcome Dr. Gaweco to APEIRON. His extensive drug development record combined with his outstanding worldwide industry experience positions him to be the ideal CMSO to follow on the pioneering scientific discoveries of APEIRON’s founder Professor Josef Penninger and the development successes of Dr. Hans Loibner. The APEIRON team, led by CEO Peter Llewellyn-Davies, will benefit significantly from his decades of scientific research and global drug development experience from early discovery through successful global product launches and commercialization."
Anderson Gaweco, M.D., Ph.D., designated CMSO of APEIRON Biologics added: "I am pleased to join the Executive Board of APEIRON. It will be a privilege to be a part of the team leading APEIRON’s global success in bringing forward its rich pipeline of first-in-class, best-in-class new treatments for cancer patients and to help transform the company into a world-class immuno-oncology leader."
Dr. Gaweco joins APEIRON from Innovimmune Biotherapeutics, New York, as founder & CEO/CSO, where he led the discovery of novel immuno-oncology and autoimmune therapeutic programs. Previously, he was CMO at Lifecycle Pharma in Denmark/USA, held Global Clinical Leader positions at Roche and Pfizer, and was Senior Medical Scientist at AstraZeneca. Before joining the industry, Dr. Gaweco held dual faculty appointments as Assistant Professor of Medicine & Pathology at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Gaweco worked on several NMEs leading to successful multi-billion dollar marketed pharmaceutical products: Xeljanz®, Cellcept®, Zenapax®, Prograf®, Pegasys®, Copegus®, Nexium® & Crestor®.
Dr. Gaweco received his M.D., Ph.D. in Immunology magna cum laude and obtained his residency in Pathology at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Germany. He has completed clinical clerkships at Harvard, Oxford and the Mayo Clinic, and executive management trainings at the London Business School and Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Gaweco is author or co-author of over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, abstracts and several worldwide patents of NME immunotherapies in immuno-oncology and autoimmunity. He is currently Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University School of Medicine.
About APEIRON Biologics AG
Apeiron is a privately-held commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company based in Vienna, Austria, focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel cancer immunotherapies. The company is leveraging its innovative therapeutic targets based on tumor-specific targeted approaches and the stimulation of the immune system via novel and proprietary unique mechanisms of action (checkpoint blockade) to eradicate cancer by engaging the human body’s natural defense mechanisms. For additional information please visit www.apeiron-biologics.com and follow us on Twitter @apeironbio.