Industry Veterans Bring Deep Expertise and Experience to Tarus Board
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / November 19, 2020 / Tarus Therapeutics Inc., an innovative biotechnology company developing adenosine receptor antagonists for cancer immunotherapy and select non-oncology indications, today announced the appointments of Mark Cohen as Chairman of the Board, and Robert Glassman, MD PhD, as a new Board Director (effective January 1, 2021).
Dr. Glassman has been a senior investment banker for 17 years, at Merrill Lynch for the majority of his career and as Vice Chairman at Credit Suisse since 2015. On transitioning from banking to OrbiMed Advisors, one of the world's largest dedicated healthcare investment firms, Dr. Glassman will be their only venture partner in public equity; he had been a private equity partner at OrbiMed 2009-2010. Earlier in his career, Dr. Glassman was with Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity where he oversaw a very successful healthcare portfolio and at McKinsey & Company for four years, where he consulted for a wide range of healthcare clients in the U.S. and Europe. Dr. Glassman is a board certified hematologist-oncologist who remains on the faculty as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell. He has co-authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals and spoken widely in industry and academic forums on oncology clinical development, reimbursement, and data interpretation. Dr. Glassman has an AB from Harvard College and an MD from Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and his fellowship in hematology and oncology at Weill Cornell. He also spent several years as a basic science investigator at Rockefeller University in the laboratory of Hidesaburo Hanafusa, where he received Howard Hughes Medical Institute and American Cancer Society awards.
Mr. Cohen is a founder of Pearl Cohen Zedek Latzer Baratz LLP, Senior Partner, Chair of the Life Sciences Practice Group, and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. Mark was a Board Director of Masthercell Global, Inc., a subsidiary of Orgenesis, Inc. (NASDAQ: ORGS), prior to its acquisition in February 2020 by Catalant, Inc. He was also Vice-Chairman of the Board and Chairman of Governance at Akari Therapeutics, Plc.
"I am excited to be joining the Board of Tarus as the company prepares to move from pre-clinical to clinical development, and honored to take on the role of Chairman," said Mr. Cohen. "I believe there is a significant opportunity for each of our programs in multiple cancer settings, as well as non-oncology indications. I look forward to working with the company to create value for patients and all stakeholders."
"Tarus is diligently advancing its oncology portfolio with the programs slated to enter clinic in early 2021. I look forward to supporting the team through this important inflection in the Company's development," added Dr. Glassman.
"We are delighted to welcome Mark and Robert to our Board of Directors at this exciting and significant phase for Tarus Therapeutics as we prepare to initiate multiple clinical studies," stated Dr. Sushant Kumar, Board Member and Chief Executive Officer of Tarus Therapeutics, Inc. "The addition of new directors complements our skills and experiences and we look forward to their guidance in bringing innovative and impactful immunotherapies to cancer patients."
About Tarus Therapeutics Inc.
Tarus is developing small molecule inhibitors of A2AR, A2BR, and Dual A2AR/A2BR inhibitors for cancer immunotherapy and select non-oncology indications. The Company has the most comprehensive portfolio of adenosine receptor antagonists in development, with both first-in-class and best-in-class programs. More information can be found at www.tarustx.com.
Contact:
Tarus Therapeutics, Inc.
Sushant Kumar, PhD
President & CEO
[email protected]
SOURCE: Tarus Therapeutics, Inc. via EQS Newswire