NovaGo Therapeutics appoints Ian Metcalfe as CEO

NovaGo Therapeutics appoints Ian Metcalfe as CEO

NovaGo Therapeutics, a development-stage biotech company with a proprietary platform to stimulate blood vessel and nerve growth, has appointed Ian Metcalfe as CEO. He succeeds Eduardo Vianna, who becomes chief development officer.

Company executives say Metcalfe joins at a pivotal time in NovaGo’s development, as it prepares to move into clinical proof-of-concept studies. He will be instrumental in securing the next round of funding, to finance this transition to a clinical-stage company and enabling further development of NovaGo’s proprietary anti-Nogo-A antibody platform.

“Ian’s breadth and depth of business experience will be a perfect complement to the scientific expertise of NovaGo’s founding team,” says Dr. Dominik Escher, managing partner at Pureos Bioventures and board member of NovaGo. “The addition of his knowledge and capabilities enhances NovaGo’s ability to maximize its platform and bring new therapies to the clinic.” 

With over 20 years of business experience across various industries centered on biotech and healthcare, Metcalfe brings new expertise to the board and management team. He has successfully delivered results across many business development and strategic initiatives, while building strong trusted relationships with investors. 

“This is a unique opportunity to build on the strong scientific foundations that the NovaGo team has already established, taking our lead program in ophthalmology into clinical development,” Metcalfe says. “Subject to successful financing and pre-clinical development, our goal is to have an IND for our first anti-Nogo-A antibody in 2021.” 

Metcalfe has held roles of increasing responsibility at Berna Biotech, Roche, Nestlé, Nestlé Health Science, and Corlieve Therapeutics, working across the development value chain from preclinical research to late stage development, commercialization, and partnering.

“I look forward to working with Ian and thank Eduardo Vianna for bringing NovaGo successfully to this point,” says Prof. Martin Schwab, founder and president of NovaGo. “I am delighted that Eduardo will continue with the company in the role of chief development officer. Ian and Eduardo together constitute a very strong management team, with the complimentary skills to maximize the potential of our platform for the benefit of patients.”