TheraCryf names Dr Alastair Smith as Chair

ALDERLEY PARK, UK - TheraCryf plc (AIM: TCF), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specializing in oncology and neuropsychiatry, announced today the appointment of Dr Alastair Smith as its new Non-executive Chair. This appointment follows the passing of the company’s former Chair, Dr Sue Foden, in November last year.

Dr Smith, an established figure in the life sciences sector, brings over two decades of experience to TheraCryf. His past roles include founding and leading Avacta Group plc as CEO, where he oversaw the company’s growth and strategic direction. His tenure at Avacta was marked by the development of a clinical-stage oncology drug division and a diagnostics business expansion through mergers and acquisitions in Europe.

In addition to his corporate leadership, Dr Smith has an extensive background in academia and research, having served over 12 years as a Professor of Molecular Biophysics at the University of Leeds. His current positions include Non-executive Director at N4 Pharma plc and Non-executive Chairman at SPARTA Biodiscovery Ltd.

Dr Huw Jones, CEO of TheraCryf, expressed confidence in Dr Smith’s appointment, stating that his expertise aligns with the company’s vision and product portfolio, which includes treatments for conditions with high unmet medical needs. Dr Smith highlighted the potential of TheraCryf’s Orexin-1 antagonist candidate, which is being developed to address addictive disorders and is approaching a significant phase in its clinical readiness.

Dr Smith’s directorship compensation will be paid in Ordinary Shares of TheraCryf for at least the next 12 months. This reflects a growing trend among companies to align the interests of their leadership with shareholder value.

TheraCryf has an active pipeline of clinical and preclinical programs targeting various indications, including glioblastoma, neurodevelopmental disorders, addiction, anxiety, and narcolepsy. The company’s strategy involves partnering with mid-size to large pharmaceutical firms for advanced trials and commercialization. TheraCryf has ongoing collaborations with several major academic institutions and hospitals, and has sourced program know-how from companies such as Shire, now part of Takeda.

The information regarding Dr Alastair Smith’s appointment is based on a press release statement from TheraCryf plc.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.