Technology

Posted on September 24, 2018 by staff

Cancer-fighting tech firm appoints new CEO

Technology

A company which uses technology to improve the screening, detection and care of cancer has appointed a new CEO.

Dr Adam Hill will take over as CEO of Oncimmune Holdings on October 1 after founder Geoffrey Hamilton-Fairley’s decision to step down and take up a new position as vice chairman of the company’s board of directors.

Dr Hill joined Oncimmune as chief medical officer and chief scientific officer and executive director earlier this year from McLaren Applied Technologies, where he was chief strategy officer and responsible for its portfolio of health programmes, co-developed in partnership with blue chip pharma and medical device companies.

A clinician-scientist with a career built in industry, academia and care delivery, he has been responsible for developing technology and commercial strategies in the medical device and diagnostics industry and held senior leadership roles at private and listed companies, supplemented by advisory and government policy appointments.

Since joining Oncimmune, Dr Hill has been leading both the R&D team and a strategic review of the company, with a view to identifying and capitalising on the opportunities presented by Oncimmune’s proprietary auto-antibody-based platform for individual profiling of cancer-related antigens.

This strategic review has confirmed the promise of the platform for individual profiling, early detection, improved care and new insights into the application of personalised approaches to improving cancer outcomes through new therapeutics.

Hamilton-Fairley joined Oncimmune in 2005 as it was established as a spin-out of Nottingham University, and led the company’s transition to a commercial phase company with the launch in the US of two early detection blood based tests in lung and liver cancer.

He also led the geographic expansion with important collaborative partnerships in China, Europe and the Middle East.

Meinhard Schmidt, non-executive chairman of Oncimmune, said: “We would like to thank Geoffrey for his vision and commitment over the last 13 years, which has led to Oncimmune becoming a leader in immunodiagnostics for cancer.

“He has built an experienced international team, strong internal science and a development platform with the capability to attract research partnerships and to establish next generation technology with new collaborations worldwide as the portfolio of programmes and products expands beyond the lung and liver tests to maximise shareholder value.

“We are delighted to welcome Adam as Oncimmune’s new CEO. His experience in the science, medicine and technology of personalised approaches to diagnostics and optimisation of healthcare delivery are an excellent fit for the company’s ambitions as we progress towards realising our goals of delivering early detection and improved care for cancer patients.”

Hamilton-Fairley commented: “The company is well-positioned for an exciting future and it is now time to transition to new leadership who will take our products and technology through clinical development and broad global commercialisation, and Adam has demonstrated that he is the ideal leader to deliver the next phase of Oncimmune’s growth.”

Dr Hill commented: “As the field of oncology sits on the cusp of dramatically improved cancer survivorship, I look forward to working with the company’s experienced board, and its highly talented executive and scientific teams to take Oncimmune’s immunodiagnostic solutions through clinical development and into the hands of clinicians to improve patient outcomes.”