Immunocore appoints Professor Sir John Bell to its Board of Directors
(Oxford, UK, 30 March 2015) Immunocore Limited, a world-leading biotechnology company developing novel biological drugs to treat cancer, viral infections and autoimmune disease, today announced the appointment of Professor Sir John Bell, the Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford University and Chairman of the Office for the Strategic Coordination of Health Research, to its Board of Directors with immediate effect.
Professor Bell, one of the world’s most distinguished scientists in the fields of genomic and genetic research and immunology, also brings significant experience in healthcare business, having been a founding director at three biotechnology companies; Avidex Limited (a precursor to Immunocore which was acquired by MediGene in 2006) Oxagen Limited and PowderJect Pharmaceuticals plc (acquired by Chiron Corporation in 2003). He currently also serves on the boards of Roche and Genentech and had a previous role on the scientific advisory board at AstraZeneca.
Professor Bell was involved in the founding of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at Oxford University, now chairs the scientific committee of UK Biobank and the Global Health Scientific Advisory Board of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and is one of two Life Science Champions for the UK, reporting to the UK Prime Minister. His research has contributed significantly to the understanding of immune activation in a number of auto-immune diseases.
“Professor Sir John Bell’s scientific expertise and industry experience are second to none, and his appointment will be a huge asset to Immunocore as it advances its immuno-oncology platform technologyfor the treatment of diseases with high unmet medical need including cancer, viral infections and autoimmune diseases,” Dr Eliot Forster, Chief Executive Officer of Immunocore, commented. “We are delighted to welcome him to the Board of Directors.”
“I am delighted to be joining the board of Immunocore, whose ImmTAC technology is, I believe, among the most promising approaches to the treatment of diseases like cancer and viral infections in the industry,” Professor Bell said. “I hope that my research experience in immunology, as well as my personal history with the company and my broader experience in the sector, will be helpful to Immunocore as it enters a dynamic new phase, and I look forward to working with the board and management team.”
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