Avacta Therapeutics (LSE:AVCT) has appointed Francis Wilson as Chief Scientific Officer, following the departure of Michelle Morrow, who is leaving the company to pursue another opportunity. Wilson, who has served as Vice President of Chemistry since 2022, has been closely involved in progressing Avacta’s pre|CISION® platform and in developing the sustained-release technology that underpins the FAP-Exd (AVA6103) programme, which is expected to enter clinical studies in the near term.
Wilson brings extensive experience in medicinal chemistry, with a career spanning senior roles at Roche, Xenova, Cellzome and Summit Therapeutics. His background in advancing drug candidates from early discovery through to clinical development aligns with Avacta’s current focus as it moves into a more intensive phase of preclinical work and intellectual property generation.
The appointment highlights the strategic importance of the pre|CISION® platform as Avacta seeks to strengthen its competitive position within the oncology drug development space. However, the company’s broader outlook remains constrained by ongoing financial challenges, including sustained losses and limited funding flexibility, alongside bearish technical signals in the shares. While there has been progress across the pipeline, the absence of major partnerships and negative earnings continue to weigh on valuation, with no dividend support.
More about Avacta Group plc
Avacta Group plc is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical group focused on oncology through its Avacta Therapeutics division. The company is developing its proprietary pre|CISION® tumour-activated drug delivery platform, alongside Affimer®-based drug conjugates, with the aim of delivering highly potent cancer treatments directly to tumour microenvironments while limiting exposure to healthy tissue.
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