Allecra Therapeutics appoints new Chair and CMO

Allecra Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel antibiotics to combat drug-resistant bacterial infections, has made two new appointments.

Engelbert Tjeenk Willink is appointed to the position of Chair of the Board and Leon Hooftman is appointed Chief Medical Officer.

Holger Reithinger of Forbion Partners steps down as Chair and remains on Allecra’s Advisory Board.

Engelbert Tjeenk Willink

Tjeenk Willink brings more than 25 years’ experience within the pharmaceutical industry, most recently at Boehringer Ingelheim as a member of the Board of Managing Directors.

He holds a number of non-executive board positions at smaller pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Leon Hooftman

Leon Hooftman, Allecra’s new CMO, brings more than 20 years’ successful experience in biopharmaceutical drug development. Previous positions include Head of Clinical Development at Celltech Group plc and Chief Medical Officer of Chroma Therapeutics.

Hooftman joins Allecra from his role as CMO of Polyphor, a Swiss biopharmaceutical company.

Hooftman said: “Allecra is working directly on Gram-negative resistant infections in the hospital, an area of urgent medical need recently highlighted by both the World Health Organisation and by the US Center for Disease Control.

“Allecra’s technology provides the opportunity to make a real difference to patients and potentially provides an important new treatment for hospital clinicians who are grappling with these types of infection.”

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