Harvard-linked immunotherapy developer T-Scan Therapeutics will be helmed by serial biotech entrepreneur Christoph Westphal, who has previously achieved multiple exits.
Harvard University has launched US-based company T-Scan Therapeutics to drive research into immunotherapies for cancer, FierceBiotech reported today.
The report cited an April 23 corporate filing naming T-Scan’s chief executive as Christoph Westphal, previously head of neuromuscular drug developer Flex Pharma, which went public for $86.4m in 2015.
Generally, immunotherapies for cancer aim to train the patient’s immune system to fight the disease by reengineering fighter cells such as T-cells to recognise and destroy cancerous intruders.
Westphal co-founded a number of other biotech businesses in the early 2000s, many of which subsequently went public, before going on to start venture capital firm Longwood Fund, where he remains as a partner.
Aside from Westphal’s involvement, little is known of T-Scan’s business plan. He will be joined by Longwood Fund’s principal, Lea Hachigan, as president and secretary, as well as Robert Crane as treasurer, for whom further details could not be ascertained.
