SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Race Oncology Limited announced that Mr Damian Clarke-Bruce has been appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 February 2023.

Mr Phil Lynch will return to his prior role as a Non-Executive Director of Race Oncology and will work closely with Mr Clarke-Bruce to ensure a smooth and effective leadership transition. Dr Tillett will continue in his leadership role as Chief Scientific Officer and Executive Director.

An extensive internal review in 2022 of the commercialisation and partnership opportunity provided by Zantrene identified the need for a full-time, highly experienced executive with global pharma partnership and drug development capability to advance Race.

Coulter Partners, a specialised international pharma/biotech executive recruitment firm was appointed to identify suitable candidates. This process, over a multi-month period, included a diligent evaluation of capability and requirements by the Race Board and management team.

Mr Clarke-Bruce brings deep global experience in drug commercialisation and portfolio strategy. He has held executive roles at all stages of the drug development process, from pre-clinical evaluation through to successful commercial launch.

He has identified and defined new markets for pharma assets and has overseen product registration, access and reimbursement, medical marketing, and commercial sale. He brings an extensive network from within the pharmaceutical industry, as well as exceptional relationships with key opinion leaders across several therapeutic areas, including oncology, haematology and immunology.

Mr Clarke-Bruce was most recently the Executive Director of Marketing Global/US Commercial Lead in Rare Disease and Head of the Global Launch Leadership Team for Pharming Healthcare Inc, New Jersey.

Damian Clarke-Bruce commented: “I am truly excited to be joining the team at Race Oncology at a such a pivotal point in their commercial journey. This is an opportunity to build on a fantastic platform established by Phil and the team, recognising Phil’s strong stewardship and commercial acumen to date. I look forward to working with him to deliver a seamless transition and ongoing strategic partnership within the board and extended team.

This role enables the alignment of my personal passion for making a difference to the health and wellbeing of patients within our global community, to enhancing the opportunities found within scientific and commercial collaboration, while delivering value to research and development in the unmet needs of cancer, a therapeutic area close to my heart.

I look forward to enriching the strategic, operational and performance drivers within Race Oncology to meet the goals of our investors, the ambitions of our scientists and to deliver a best-in-class clinical program, while unveiling a unique value proposition for the commercial transition of the business.”