Marker Therapeutics Inc (Nasdaq:MRKR), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company specialising in the development of next-generation T cell-based immunotherapies for the treatment of haematological malignancies and solid tumour indications, announced yesterday that it has named Nadia Agopyan, PhD, RAC as its new vice president of Regulatory Affairs, effective 15 August.

Dr Agopyan joins Marker from Kite Pharma where she served as director of Regulatory Affairs, global regulatory lead. Previously, she served as global regulatory lead at Baxter Biosciences, leading Vonvendi (recombinant von Willebrand Factor) approval/launch, senior director Regulatory Affairs at Ambit Biosciences, and director Regulatory Affairs at Cougar Biotechnology, a unit of Johnson and Johnson Ortho Biotech Oncology, where she led the approval of Zytiga, abiraterone acetate, for the treatment of patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Earlier in her career, Dr Agopyan served in various roles at biotechnology companies such as Amgen, CATO Research and Allelix Biopharmaceuticals and as assistant professor in academia including Duke University and University of Toronto.

Peter L Hoang, president & CEO of Marker, said, 'We are pleased to welcome a professional of Nadia's calibre and senior leadership experience to Marker. With more than 15 years of industry knowledge in regulatory affairs and clinical development, Nadia will be instrumental in helping shape our regulatory strategy as we prepare to initiate the first Marker-sponsored trial with MultiTAA therapy in patients with post-transplant acute myeloid leukemia.'