Aura Biosciences named Jeremy Bender, Ph.D., M.B.A., to its board of directors, adding a former Day One Biopharmaceuticals chief executive who led that company through an approval, launch and eventual $2.5 billion sale.
Bender most recently served as CEO, president and board member of Day One, where he oversaw the rollout of Ojemda for pediatric low-grade glioma. Before that, he was vice president of corporate development at Gilead Sciences and held leadership roles at Tizona Therapeutics, Sutro Biopharma and Allos Therapeutics.
For Aura, the appointment comes as the company pushes bel-sar toward a potential regulatory decision. The company said enrollment in its phase 3 Compass trial is complete, placing the program in late-stage development for early choroidal melanoma.
The new director joins a board that Aura says will benefit from his experience in late-stage development, commercialization and oncology dealmaking. Bender also sits on the board of Mereo Biopharma Group and previously served on Fusion Pharmaceuticals’ board.
Aura’s lead candidate, bel-sar, is also being studied in earlier-stage work in other ocular oncology indications and bladder cancer. The market has reacted to these announcements by moving the company's shares 2.49% to a price of $7.205. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.
