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Marc Damelin
Alphina Therapeutics, a biotechnology company advancing a best-in-class NAMPT inhibitor for solid tumors, has appointed Marc Damelin, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer.
Dr. Damelin brings over 17 years of oncology drug discovery and development expertise, with a track record of advancing multiple clinical compounds and platform technologies that led to high-value industry partnerships.
Alphina’s novel approach to NAMPT inhibition integrates synthetic lethality strategies to enhance the therapeutic index of its small molecules. The company has also developed a proprietary patient selection assay to identify highly responsive patients across non-small cell lung, small cell lung, colorectal, ovarian, and other solid tumors. Additionally, Alphina has engineered its molecules to mitigate toxicities that have historically hindered previous NAMPT inhibitors.
Dr. Damelin most recently served as Vice President and Head of Biology at Mersana Therapeutics, where he played a key role in the discovery of novel ADC platform technologies and clinical-stage compounds, leading to three strategic partnerships with GSK, Merck-Serono, and Janssen (J&J), generating US$170million in upfront payments. Prior to Mersana, he spent a decade at Pfizer’s Oncology Research Unit, leading discovery programs that advanced into clinical development, ultimately heading the company’s ADC discovery efforts.
Dr. Damelin’s leadership is expected to drive Alphina’s continued progress in developing highly selective, next-generation cancer therapeutics.
