IDEAYA Names Stu Dorman as New Chief Commercial Officer

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IDEAYA Biosciences announced that Stu Dorman is joining the company as its chief commercial officer.¹ The precision medicine oncology company is preparing to shift to becoming a commercial launch company and brought Dorman aboard for his experience in this area. Prior to joining IDEAYA, Dorman worked as the vice president and head of Gilead Sciences’ U.S. oncology business unit.

In a press release, IDEAYA Biosciences president and chief executive officer Yujiro S. Hata said, “We are thrilled to welcome Stu as IDEAYA makes continued enrollment progress in the potential registrational trial for darovasertib in first-line HLA-A2(-) MUM, and the potential indication expansion opportunity in neoadjuvant UM. Stu has extensive commercial experience in global product commercialization, product launches, sales and market access. Most importantly, Stu's proven track record in maximizing the commercial opportunity for several global blockbuster cancer treatments, such as Trodelvy® and Opdivo®, makes him an ideal fit to lead our commercial organization.”

In the same press release, Dorman said, “I am delighted to join IDEAYA to build an industry-leading commercial organization that is well positioned to deliver potential first-in-class precision medicine oncology therapies that can improve the lives of cancer patients worldwide. I look forward to leveraging my extensive commercial oncology experience as darovasertib continues to make progress in the potential registrational trial in first-line HLA-A2(-) MUM and targeted Phase 3 start in neoadjuvant UM, and as the broader clinical pipeline advances, including IDE397 in MTAP-deletion non-small cell lung cancer and urothelial cancer.”

IDEAYA has multiple molecules in various stages of development. Earlier this month, the company announced that it had nominated IDE034 as a development candidate.² The molecule is described as a first-in-class B7H3/PTK7 topo-I-payload biospecific antibody drug conjugate.

In a press release, IDEAYA Biosciences chief scientific officer Michael White, PhD, said, “We are pleased to nominate development candidate IDE034, a promising potential first-in class B7H3/PTK7 topo-I-payload bispecific ADC, which has demonstrated robust monotherapy tumor regressions in multiple preclinical models. The co-expression of B7H3/PTK7 in several solid tumors, including double-digit percent prevalence in lung, colorectal, and head and neck cancers, highlights the potential addressable market, both as monotherapy and in combination with PARG inhibitor IDE161.

In the same press release, Hata added, “We are excited to nominate our 6th development candidate in IDE034 and this program achieves several strategic objectives for IDEAYA, including the potential for monotherapy activity, application in multiple priority solid tumor types of lung and colorectal cancer, and the ability to enable wholly-owned rational combinations with our internal pipeline.”

Dr. Yuelei Shen, President and CEO of Biocytogen, also said, “We are excited to have IDEAYA exercise their option to license the worldwide rights to our B7H3/PTK7 BsADC IDE034 with a proprietary topoisomerase linker-payload. This important milestone in our partnership further validates Biocytogen's RenLite® platform and brings us one step closer to making an impact on patients with solid tumors. We look forward to our continued partnership with IDEAYA as they advance this program to the clinic.”

Sources

1. IDEAYA Biosciences Appoints Stu Dorman as Chief Commercial Officer. IDEAYA Biosciences. November 18, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ideaya-biosciences-appoints-stu-dorman-as-chief-commercial-officer-302307574.html
2. IDEAYA Announces Development Candidate Nomination of IDE034, a Potential First-in-Class B7H3/PTK7 Topo-I-Payload Bispecific ADC and Option Exercise with Biocytogen. IDEAYA Biosciences. November 11, 2024. Accessed November 20, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ideaya-announces-development-candidate-nomination-of-ide034-a-potential-first-in-class-b7h3ptk7-topo-i-payload-bispecific-adc-and-option-exercise-with-biocytogen-302300561.html