Tessa Therapeutics, a clinical-stage cell therapy company developing next-generation cancer treatments, has named Jeffrey H Buchalter as its new chief executive officer, and Goran A Ando as its new chairman of the board, with immediate effect, it was reported on Monday.

Buchalter joined Tessa as an independent board director in March 2019. He has over 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. He earlier served in various chairmanships and as CEO of both private and publicly listed companies, including Archimedes Pharmaceuticals, Enzon Pharmaceuticals, and Ilex Oncology Inc. Prior to that, he served as group VP/head of Worldwide Oncology Franchise at Pharmacia & Upjohn. He has received the American Cancer Society's Joseph F Buckley Memorial Award for his commitment to cancer control. He also served as chairman of the board of directors to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation in the United States.

Dr Ando joined Tessa as an independent board director in April 2018 and has more than 35 years of experience in the global pharmaceutical industry. He presently serves as the chairman of the board for Eyepoint Pharma and has been a senior adviser to leading specialist healthcare investment group, Essex Woodlands, since 2007. He is also the retired chairman of the board of Global Pharmaceutical Company, Novo Nordisk A/S. He earlier served as the chief executive officer of Cell Tech Group PLC. Prior to that, he was executive vice president and president of R&D at Pharmacia Inc.