About us

Iksuda Therapeutics is creating next-generation, class-leading ADCs

Our ADCs target difficult-to-treat cancers, including those that are resistant or refractory to current therapies.

Through our highly experienced ADC Development Team, we are building a pipeline of best in class ADCs with superior therapeutic index (TI).

Our approach is to develop the best ADCs for each tumour or tumour sub-type through careful selection of the right combinations of payload, linker and conjugation chemistry.

Iksuda has built a portfolio of ADC assets including;

  • PermaLink® – our proprietary conjugation chemistry for improved ADC stability
  • Novel payloads with a variety of mechanisms for improved tumour killing, including pro-drug approaches for added safety
  • Novel antibodies towards targeted well-selected antigens associated primarily with solid tumours

In addition to Iksuda’s proprietary pipeline of best-in-class ADCs, we seek strategic collaborations and licensing opportunities for ADCs which also meet our criteria.

We are focused on providing more effective treatments for patients who have few options, and our pipeline targets tumours including diffuse B-cell lymphomas, lung cancer, gynaecological tumours such as those of the ovary & cervix, pancreatic, triple-negative breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

Our first wave ADC programmes target antigens with proven premise in ADC formats and include novel DNA damaging payloads with tumour-activating pro-drug mechanisms.

We are working with leading research institutions in the US and Europe to develop exciting new therapies for the future. We are flexible in our approach to collaboration and welcome discussions with research groups who have novel ADC-relevant programmes.

We have developed a series of high-value ADC assets, which are available for collaborative research and license.

Management team

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David Simpson PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Dave co-founded Iksuda Therapeutics (formerly Glythera) in 2012, refocussing it into an Antibody Drug Conjugate development company underpinned by its proprietary technology platforms. Prior to Iksuda, Dave led Actavis’s biosimilar programmes (now Allergan) and started his industrial career by joining Cobra Biologics (now Cobra Biomanufacturing) before moving to Eden Biodesign Ltd where he led its Process Development capabilities.

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Robert Lutz PhD

Chief Science Officer

With more than 25 years’ experience, Bob was previously Vice President of Translational Research and Development at ImmunoGen Inc., where he was responsible for all early-stage ADC development programs and gained further experience in directing the clinical pharmacology, biomarkers, pharmacology and toxicology departments. While at ImmunoGen, Bob was responsible for bringing eight of ImmunoGen’s candidate ADC products into development and was the research lead for Kadcyla®.

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Ian Evetts PhD

Chief Business Officer

Ian has over 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry gained through senior positions in Sales, Marketing, Business Development and Licensing in Multi-National Companies and BioTech. Prior to joining Iksuda he was Evaluations Director for AstraZeneca, responsible for asset evaluation of in-house and externalisation opportunities on behalf of their ex-US Business and for whom he negotiated numerous licensing deals.

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Jenny Thirlway PhD

Senior Director, Development Program Team Leader

Jen leads Iksuda’s ADC programmes including the pre-clinical demonstration of Iksuda’s proprietary PermaLink® conjugation chemistry, exemplification of novel toxin platforms and the evaluation of partnered antibodies/alternative scaffolds focussed on the development of a proof of concept stage ADC portfolio. Jen has significant experience in the development of biologics including antibody based therapeutics and biosimilars (via the acquisition of Eden Biodesign Ltd, UK by Allergan PLC) and a post-doctoral background in biochemistry.

Advisory board

Ruth Plummer MD

Clinical Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine

Ruth is Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine, Newcastle University, an honorary consultant medical oncologist at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, a director of the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre and leads the CRUK Newcastle Cancer Centre.

Nationally Ruth chairs the Cancer Research UK New Agents Committee and is a member of Cancer Research UK’s Clinical Research Committee.  She is a member of the MRC Stratified Medicine Group.

Kathleen Moore MD

Professor of Gynecologic Oncology

Kathleen is an associate Professor of gynecologic oncology and serves as the director of the Oklahoma TSET Phase I Clinical Trials Program, Endowed Chair of Christy Everest Cancer Research, Associate Director of Clinical Research and Medical Director of the Clinical Trials Office for the Stephenson Cancer Center.

Kathleen is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as gynecologic oncology and hospice and palliative care.

David O’Malley MD

Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

David is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Centre, serves as chair of The James Committee on Patient Satisfaction, is a member of the Patient Experience Counsel, the Perioperative Quality Management Committee and The James Quality and Patient Safety Committee.

Nationally, David is a member of multiple oncology focussed committees and is a member of the steering committee for TRINOVA 3, a multinational phase III ovarian cancer trial.

Morris Rosenberg

Former Executive VP Seattle Genetics

Morris participated in the development and launch of Adcetris®, Avonex®, Angiomax®, Xigris®, and Forteo®. He has considerable experience in building highly successful product development teams & supervising process sciences, manufacturing, quality control, quality assurance, preclinical research, bioanalytical, and project management.

Board of directors

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Sam Williams PhD

Non-Executive Chairman

Sam has 20 years’ experience in the biotechnology industry, both as a top-ranked equity analyst in the City and, subsequently, as an entrepreneur and chief executive. He is Head of Life Sciences at IP Group plc, Executive Chairman of Istesso Ltd and Non-Executive Chairman of Microbiotica Ltd. He holds a PhD in molecular biology from Cambridge and a degree in biology from Oxford.

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David Simpson PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Dave co-founded Iksuda Therapeutics (formerly Glythera) in 2012, refocussing it into an Antibody Drug Conjugate development company underpinned by its proprietary technology platforms. Prior to Iksuda, Dave led Actavis’s biosimilar programmes (now Allergan) and started his industrial career by joining Cobra Biologics (now Cobra Biomanufacturing) before moving to Eden Biodesign Ltd where he led its Process Development capabilities.

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Michael Owen PhD

Non-Executive Director

Mike was Senior Vice President and global Head of Research of the Biopharmaceuticals R&D Unit at GlaxoSmithKline and was responsible for initiating and rapidly growing its pre-clinical and clinical therapeutic antibody pipeline. An immunologist by training, Mike established Kymab in 2010 and was responsible for the development of its novel transgenic mouse platform. Mike is an independent board member at Zealand Pharma and non-executive director of ReNeuron plc, Avacta Group plc, GammaDelta Therapeutics, Ossianix Inc. and Blink Therapeutics. He also advises the private equity CRT Pioneer Fund and Abingworth LLP.

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Alan Lamb

Non-Executive Director

Alan has broad experience as director, manager in technology businesses from early stage through to a large public company. He led the MBO of Computer Security International from Advent which was acquired by Racal Electronics where he was CEO of Racal IT Security. The last 15 years have seen Alan develop spin-out companies from UK universities as a mentor, chairman & non-executive director. He is chairman of Promethean Particles, a supplier of specialist nano-particles & Gyrometric Systems, who provide condition monitoring for offshore wind turbines. He was an independent director of Kings Arms Yard VCT plc for 10 years and is a non-executive director of Resilient Networks plc. He holds an Engineering Science degree and an MBA.