OncoSec names chief clinical development officer

OncoSec picks chief clinical development officer

Sandra Aung, Ph.D., joined OncoSec Medical Inc. – a company developing late-stage intra-tumoral cancer immunotherapies – as senior VP, chief clinical development officer.

Dr. Aung is responsible for overseeing KEYNOTE-695, the company’s Phase IIb trial evaluating intratumoral delivery of its interleukin-12 (IL-12) based immunotherapy, Tavo (tavokinogene telseplasmid), in combination with intravenous Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with unresectable, advanced melanoma, as well as overseeing OncoSec’s additional clinical trials evaluating Tavo.

Company executives say prior to joining OncoSec, Dr. Aung was an integral part of the development of Nektar Therapeutics’ lead clinical compound, pegylated interleukin-2 (IL-2) (bempeg), in combination with immune checkpoint therapies for multiple solid tumors. She led the effort in achieving Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the melanoma therapy, which resulted in Nektar’s transformational deal with Bristol Myers Squibb. 

“Her extensive scientific and clinical experience with immune modulating cytokines and checkpoint therapies, in addition to her strong relationship with clinical investigators and key opinion leaders (KOLs) in the field of melanoma, makes her ideal to lead KEYNOTE-695 as we complete enrollment,” says Daniel J. O’Connor, president and CEO of OncoSec. “We are thrilled to add her to the leadership team at this important time for the company.”

Dr. Aung assumes all clinical development leadership responsibilities from Kellie Malloy, who previously served as chief clinical development officer and chief operating officer and who left the company to pursue another opportunity.

“OncoSec’s unique IL-12 plasmid and gene delivery platform has the potential to become a life-extending treatment option for patients diagnosed with cancer where current therapies have proven insufficient,” Dr. Aung says. “I am particularly excited to be joining the company as it prepares to report new clinical data for the KEYNOTE-695 trial in November at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC). My immediate focus is to successfully complete KEYNOTE-695 to bring what I believe is an important new therapy to patients in need.”

Dr. Aung has more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, having led teams and projects in companies of different sizes. She has a versatile background in autoimmunity, immune-oncology and infectious disease, and has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and received multiple Small Business Innovate Research (SBIR) grants from the National Cancer Institute/ National Institutes of Health (IH/NCI) for her work in immune-oncology drug development. 

Her extensive immuno-oncology drug development experience additionally comes from previous research and leadership positions she held at UbiVac Inc. and Cell Genesys Inc. Dr. Aung earned her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from Vanderbilt University and performed her post-doctoral research at The Scripps Research Institute.

In connection with her appointment, Dr. Aung received a one-time inducement award of 300,000 stock options, of which 75,000 (25 percent) are fully vested as of the grant date. The remaining shares vest 12 months from the date of grant. The company approved the award as an inducement material to Dr. Aung entering into employment with the company in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).