Oxford Vacmedix UK Ltd announces the appointment of Dr Thomas Morris as Chief Medical Officer, bringing in-depth expertise in oncology clinical development to the Company.
Press Release – Dr Thomas Morris appointed as Chief Medical Officer
Oxford, 23rd March 2021:
Oxford Vacmedix, the UK-based biopharma company focused on the development of cancer vaccines announced today the appointment of Dr. Thomas Morris BSc, MB BCh, LlM, MRCP FFPM as Chief Medical Officer. Tom originally worked as a physician in the NHS before joining industry, including many years at Astra Zeneca where he led the global clinical development of several oncology compounds. He has been responsible for the design, implementation and subsequent analysis of many study protocols, including several first in man clinical trials. Tom has wide experience in scientific interactions and in negotiation with the US, European and Japanese regulatory agencies on clinical development plans pre-phase III.
William Finch, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Vacmedix said;
“I am delighted to welcome Tom to the team at Oxford Vacmedix at this critical time, as move our lead cancer vaccine, OVM-200, into the clinic. His extensive experience in oncology and in clinical development will be invaluable for the next phase of the development of our vaccines as monotherapy and in combination with immune-oncology agents, to meet the needs of cancer patients.”
Dr Morris qualified in Physiology and Medicine from the University of Wales in 1987 and went on to gain a master’s degree in Law from the University of Cardiff. He was awarded the Fellowship of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine from the Royal College of Physicians in 2003 and was appointed to the role of Registrar and Board Member of the Faculty in 2015. Tom also served as a member of the Faculty’s Coordination Committee and as a Speciality Adviser, responsible for overseeing training in pharmaceutical medicine, and was previously Chair of the Ethical Issues Committee and member of the Professional Standards Committee of the Faculty.
Tom Morris commented;
“I am very pleased to be joining Oxford Vacmedix to lead the clinical development of these novel cancer vaccines. The underlying ROP technology offers great hope to provide safe and effective therapies to help people with cancer live longer and better lives, and I look forward to making a positive contribution to the company.”
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
William Finch, CEO, Oxford Vacmedix
T: +44 (0)1865 742087 | M: +44(0)7769 903711 | E: wfinch@oxfordvacmedix.com
About Oxford Vacmedix
Oxford Vacmedix UK Ltd, based at the Oxford Science Park, UK, is a bio-pharma company that was spun out from the University of Oxford’s Department of Oncology and is utilising the novel proprietary platform technology of recombinant overlapping peptides (ROPs) invented by Dr Shisong Jiang. ROPs have been validated as a technology to stimulate broad and strong T cell immunity therefore forming a good platform for cancer therapeutic vaccines and diagnostics.
The technology uses the novel, proprietary platform of ROPs to design and develop therapeutic cancer vaccines and diagnostics with the potential for increased efficacy, lower costs, simpler regulatory pathways and synergy when used in combination with other immune oncology (IO) agents. The company has extensive contacts and collaborations in China through Changzhou Bioscience that is using the ROP platform in both diagnostics and as adoptive cell therapy OVM is developing two lead vaccines, OVM-100 and OVM-200, focusing on unmet clinical need.
OVM-100 is an HPV vaccine targeted at cervical cancer, and OVM-200 represents a new type of vaccine utilising survivin to target solid tumours. Both vaccines will be tested as single agents and in combination with other IO agents.
OVM secured Series A investment from Cancer ROP, a leading South Korean healthcare institution, listed in KOSDAQ, and from existing shareholders in China. The Series A financing round represented the first time that a UK cancer vaccines company has been financed by both South Korean and Chinese investors. OVM is currently engaged with Series B fundraising.