Ascentage Pharma (6855.HK), a globally focused, clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced on Friday that it has appointed Dr David Sidransky, MD as its new independent non-executive director.

The company said that Dr Sidransky is an expert in oncology and precision medicine, widely respected in the biopharmaceutical industry. Presently, he is the director of the head and Neck Cancer Research Division at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Department of Otolaryngology; and Professor of Oncology, Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Urology, Genetics, and Pathology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has also served as a member on the Scientific Advisory Boards of various professional organisations and institutions, including the American Association for Cancer Research, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the National Cancer Institute of the United States.

Dr Sidransky is also a founder of various biotechnology companies such as Champions Oncology (Nasdaq: CSBR). He was vice chairman of ImClone Systems Inc, as well as co-founder and managing partner of the Israel Biotech Fund. He is a highly-experienced board member, after having served as a director on the boards of Galmed Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: GLMD), Orgenesis (Nasdaq: ORGS), Advaxis (Nasdaq: ADXS), and Ayala (Nasdaq: AYLA).

Dr Dajun Yang, Ascentage Pharma chairman & CEO, commented: "It is our great pleasure to welcome Dr. Sidransky join us as an independent non-executive director. Dr Sidransky is a true expert in science as well as in business operations, corporate governance, and investment management, and has made tremendous contributions to the biopharmaceutical industry. Ascentage Pharma is currently advancing the global clinical development of its assets targeting a range of tumour types, and is gearing up for its first product launch. We are confident that the addition of Dr Sidransky to our board will help sharpen our strategic focus and better position the company to capture future growth opportunities."