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Dr. Debra Barker
Centauri Therapeutics Limited, a leading immunotherapy company with a proprietary platform technology applicable across multiple therapeutic areas, has appointed Dr. Debra Barker as Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
Dr. Barker, an accomplished clinical immunologist, brings over 25 years of executive leadership across global pharmaceutical and biotech companies. In her new role, she will spearhead Centauri’s clinical development programs, ensuring the seamless advancement of its lead candidate through Phase I clinical trials.
This follows Centauri’s selection of its first clinical candidate within the ABX-01 program in March 2025, targeting Gram-negative bacterial infections. Her appointment marks a critical step in transitioning from regulatory preclinical activities to first-in-human studies, while strengthening the company’s clinical strategy.
Dr. Barker’s career spans senior roles at Novartis, Roche, and GSK. During her 17-year tenure at Novartis, she served as Development Head for Infectious Diseases, Immunology, and Transplantation. She later held Chief Medical Officer positions at Destiny Pharma and Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals AG, and as Chief Medical and Development Officer at Polyphor, she played a pivotal role in leading the company’s successful IPO on the SIX Swiss Exchange.
Currently, Dr. Barker also contributes her expertise as Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Scientific Committee at CureVac NV and as Non-Executive Director at Qureight Ltd. She holds a medical degree from the University of Cambridge.
Her appointment underscores Centauri’s commitment to advancing its immunotherapy pipeline and accelerating progress toward novel solutions for challenging infectious diseases.
