Frank Morich joins Innate Pharma's board of directors
The former chairman of the board of Bayer Healthcare has been elected to the board of directors of Innate Pharma, a French biopharmaceutical company specialising in innate immunity via the manipulation of non-conventional lymphocyte cells such as NK cells.
The former chairman of the board of Bayer Healthcare has been elected to the board of directors of Innate Pharma, a French biopharmaceutical company specialising in innate immunity via the manipulation of non-conventional lymphocyte cells such as NK cells.
Morich's background in immunology and oncology and his years on the board of Bayer AG and Bayer Healthcare bring a wealth of experience in industrial, business and financial research and development to Innate Pharma, as well as a first class network of international scientific, industrial and financial connections.
He will play a determining role at a time when Innate accelerates the clinical development of its products and signs its first agreements with the pharmaceutical industry. Morich is convinced that there is very real potential to the molecules and therapies at the heart of the company's r&d.
'My experience in big pharma has convinced me of the great rewards that lie in the smaller more entrepreneurial world,' he said. 'The creativity and flexibility that can be found there are conducive to accelerated research and development.'
Morich is currently ceo of AM Pharma, a Dutch biotechnology company specialising in the discovery, development and sale of novel therapies derived from the human immune system and applicable to infectious and inflammatory pathology. He joins the board of Innate Pharma, alongside Herve Brailly (ceo of Innate Pharma SAS), Frank Bulens (director of GIMV), Jean Deleage (associate director Alta Partners), Phil-ippe Desmarescaux (chairman of the board ENS Lyon and founding chairman of the biovision forum), Denis Lucquin (associate director of Sofinnova) and Philippe Pouletty (director general of Truffle Ventures and chairman of France Biotech).
Innate Pharma
Innate Pharma SAS is a French biopharmaceutical company in clinical development stage specialized in cancer immuno-therapeutics. It is the first company to develop immuno-modulating medications and cellular therapies targeting non-conventional lymphocytes. The company has currently two products in Phase I of clinical development in cancer. The company was founded in 1999, and raised Euro 25m in private funding since inception in two rounds of financing. Companies investing in Innate are Sofinnova Partners, Auriga, GIMV, INSERM Transfert, Alta Partners, Axa Private Equity, Gilde Biotech and Nutrition, Pechel Industries and Innoveris.