Targovax has appointed two highly experienced executives to key leadership roles in the company, effective from January 5th, 2015.

Anne-Kirsti Aksnes, PhD, VP Clinical Development, has 20 years of experience within clinical research and development in pharma and biotech industry and 10 years of experience with clinical physiology. Previously, she was VP Clinical Research in Algeta ASA (now Bayer AS), where she had a key role in the strategic, scientific, clinical development and medical communication.

Tina Madsen, MSc Pharm, VP Quality Assurance, has more than 20 years of experience within R&D and commercial manufacturing in pharma and biotech industry related to quality assurance, process development and formulation. Before joining Targovax, she was Director of Product Quality Assurance in Algeta ASA (now Bayer AS).

Targovax is entering an exciting development phase and by expanding the professional and experienced management team with two new senior executives, Targovax is well positioned to plan and execute Proof of Concept studies.

"I am pleased to welcome Anne-Kirsti and Tina to our Team. We look forward to the insight and wealth of experience that they bring to Targovax", says Gunnar Gårdemyr, CEO of Targovax.

 

Contact:

Targovax
Gunnar Gårdemyr, Chief Executive Officer, Cell phone: (+41) 798 340 585
E-mail: [email protected]

Jonas Einarsson, Chairman of the Board, Cell phone: (+47) 48 09 63 55
E-mail: [email protected]

 

Facts:


Targovax

Targovax was established in October in 2010 to develop immunotherapy in the form of therapeutic cancer vaccines based on pioneering research at the Norwegian Radium Hospital and Norsk Hydro. Mutation of RAS is an early mutation in the transformation of a normal cell into a cancer cell. Lead candidate TG01 educates the body's immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells with RAS mutations. TG01 has Orphan Drug status for pancreatic cancer in the EU and US and is currently in Phase II trials in operated pancreatic cancer. The company is located in Lysaker, close to Oslo, Norway.

Immuno- oncology / Cancer vaccines

The Norwegian cancer research community has been in the forefront of understanding the mechanisms for immuno-oncology and cancer vaccines. A cancer vaccine educates the body's immune system to recognize and kill the cancer cells. The TG01 vaccine is therapeutic and is given as treatment to patients after surgery of cancer patients, to prevent relapse.

Pancreas cancer and other RAS-mutated cancer forms

Pancreatic cancer is a disease affecting 116 000 patients each year in EU and USA, and approximately 690 persons each year in Norway. Approx 15-20% of these are discovered at an early stage and are operable. The mortality is high, and the prognosis for these patients has been more or less unchanged the last 30 years. Approximately 80-90% of patients with pancreatic cancer have RAS mutations in the cancer cells.

RAS mutations occur in approx. 20% of all cancer cases, and are also frequent in colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and other cancers. Patients with RAS mutations within these indications have proved to be difficult to treat with current treatments, and there is a significant unmet medical need.