19 July 2022 - - US-based clinical-stage immunotherapy company Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALPN) has appointed Jörn Drappa, MD, PhD, to its board of directors, the company said.

Dr. Drappa most recently served as chief medical officer of Ventyx Biosciences.

Prior to Ventyx, Dr. Drappa co-founded Viela Bio, a biotechnology company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of treatments for autoimmune and severe inflammatory diseases, and served as its head of R and D and chief medical officer through its acquisition by Horizon Therapeutics in March 2021 for USD 3.1bn.

At Viela Bio, Dr. Drappa led the development of UPLIZNA (inebilizumab-cdon) in multiple indications, culminating in its approval for the treatment of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD).

Prior to Viela Bio, he held various roles of increasing responsibility leading clinical development programs at MedImmune/AstraZeneca, Genentech/Roche, and Amgen. Dr. Drappa received his medical and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Cologne in Germany.

He completed a residency in internal medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital and a fellowship in rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery, NY.

Concurrent with Dr. Drappa joining Alpine's board of directors, Alpine also announced that Jay Venkatesan, MD has stepped down as a director of Alpine.

Alpine Immune Sciences is committed to leading a new wave of immune therapeutics.

With world-class research and development capabilities, a highly productive scientific platform, and a proven management team, Alpine is seeking to create first- or multifunctional immunotherapies via unique protein engineering technologies to improve patients' lives.

Alpine has entered into strategic collaborations with leading global biopharmaceutical companies and has a diverse pipeline of clinical and preclinical candidates in development.