CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oncorus, Inc. (Nasdaq: ONCR), a viral immunotherapies company focused on driving innovation to transform outcomes for cancer patients, today announced the promotion of John Goldberg, M.D. to Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Goldberg joined Oncorus in October 2018 as Senior Vice President of Clinical Development with responsibilities including oversight of all clinical studies, drug development and regulatory strategies.
“We are delighted to announce John’s promotion to Chief Medical Officer as he has been an integral part of our company’s progress thus far. His first-hand experience as a practicing oncologist with over 15 years of experience enrolling patients into clinical trials, coupled with expertise across a range of immunotherapies, have been crucial to our pipeline progress and we are incredibly pleased to have his continued guidance in this new role,” said Theodore (Ted) Ashburn, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Oncorus. “We look forward to John’s leadership as we continue to advance our viral immunotherapy candidate, ONCR-177, through the clinic with additional data from multiple cohorts expected later this year, in addition to progressing our ONCR-GBM program and selectively self-amplifying viral RNA (vRNA) product candidates ONCR-021 and ONCR-788.”
“It’s an honor to take on the role of Chief Medical Officer at Oncorus, and I’m incredibly excited and motivated by the unique opportunity that Oncorus has to make a meaningful difference in cancer patients’ lives via its dual platform approach to unleashing the full potential of viral immunotherapies,” said Dr. Goldberg. “Both the HSV and selectively self-amplifying vRNA platforms create a uniquely diverse pipeline rooted in compelling science and promising future growth. I believe that Oncorus has the potential to meaningfully impact the current standard of care in oncology, and, in partnership with the rest of the executive team, I look forward to advancing this innovative technology.”
Dr. Goldberg has served as Senior Vice President of Clinical Development since he joined Oncorus in 2018. Prior to joining Oncorus, Dr. Goldberg served as Senior Medical Director of H3 Biomedicine, a developer of genomics-based cancer therapies. While at H3 Biomedicine, he supervised the clinical development of H3B-8800, the first-in-human spliceosome modulator. Previously, Dr. Goldberg held clinical roles in cancer drug development, leading the pediatric oncology Phase 1 program at the University of Miami and working as Medical Director for Agenus. His immunotherapy experience includes first-in-human neo-antigen vaccines, dendritic cell vaccine and GVAX trials, as well as check point inhibitors and costimulatory agonists. Dr. Goldberg is also a pediatric oncologist with 15 years of experience treating children with cancer and enrolling patients in clinical trials. He received his pediatric hematology oncology training from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital Boston and his general pediatrics training from the University of Rochester. Dr. Goldberg holds an M.D. from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and a A.B. in Biological Sciences from the University of Chicago. In addition to his current role at Oncorus, Dr. Goldberg is a Medical Advisory Board Member for the Sarcoma Foundation of America and a member of the Advisory Group at MassBio.
About Oncorus
At Oncorus, we are focused on driving innovation to deliver next-generation viral immunotherapies to transform outcomes for cancer patients. We are advancing a portfolio of intratumorally (iTu) and intravenously (IV) administered viral immunotherapies for multiple indications with significant unmet need based on our oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Platform and selectively self-amplifying viral RNA (vRNA) Immunotherapy Platform.
Designed to deliver next-generation viral immunotherapy impact, our HSV Platform improves upon key characteristics of this therapeutic class to enhance systemic activity. Our lead HSV program, ONCR-177, is designed to be directly administered into a tumor, resulting in high local concentrations of the therapeutic agent and its five encoded transgenes, as well as low systemic exposure to the therapy, which could limit systemic toxicities. Our pioneering selectively self-amplifying vRNA Immunotherapy Platform involves a highly innovative, novel combination of RNA- and oncolytic virus-based modalities designed to realize the potential of RNA medicines for cancer. Our lead IV-administered selectively self-amplifying vRNA Immunotherapy clinical candidates, ONCR-021 and ONCR-788, are both currently in IND-enabling studies.
Please visit www.oncorus.com to learn more.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, implied and express statements regarding the clinical development of ONCR-177, including expectations regarding timing for reporting data from the ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial; the success and therapeutic potential of Oncorus’ dual-platform pipeline; and the ability of Oncorus’ technology to meaningfully shift the standard of care in oncology. The words “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “expect,” “estimate,” “seek,” :”predict,” “future,” “project,” “potential,” “continue,” “target” and similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and important factors that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, including, without limitation, risks associated with: Oncorus’ ability to successfully demonstrate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of its product candidates and obtain regulatory approval thereof; Oncorus’ ability to obtain the requisite components for its product candidates manufactured in accordance with regulatory requirements; the impact of COVID-19 on Oncorus’ operations and the timing and anticipated results of its ongoing and planned clinical trials; the risk that the results of preclinical studies and clinical trials may not be predictive of future results in connection with future clinical trials; the expansion of Oncorus’ in-house manufacturing capabilities; the adequacy of Oncorus’ existing capital resources and availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms; the accuracy of the Oncorus’ estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing; and Oncorus’ ability to obtain, maintain and protect its intellectual property. These and other risks and uncertainties are described in greater detail in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Oncorus’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2021, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in the other filings that Oncorus makes with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. These documents are available under the “SEC filings” page of the Investors section of Oncorus’ website at http://investors.oncorus.com. Any forward-looking statements represent Oncorus’ views only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Oncorus explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. No representations or warranties (expressed or implied) are made about the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements.
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