Kancera appoints new Chief Scientific Officer and extends management team

“I am very happy to announce these recruitments and the strengthening of our organization, which is enabled by the recent rights issue,” says Peter Selin CEO at Kancera AB and continues: “These organizational changes reflect Kancera’s strong focus on advancing the clinical development of our fractalkine blocking drug candidates and the preparations for upcoming clinical studies.”

Robert Edfors, MD, PhD will assume the role as new Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Senior Vice President Clinical Development on September 1, 2024. Up until then, Thomas Olin will remain as CSO. Thomas Olin, PhD, one of Kancera’s co-founders, possesses extensive expertise concerning the fractalkine program and will continue to work for the company after the hand over as a scientific advisor. Olin will also remain as board member.

Robert Edfors, specialist in cardiology and internal medicine, will be scientifically responsible for the company’s research and development program, including being responsible for development of intellectual property. Edfors has more than 15 years of combined experience from the pharmaceutical industry, academic research and as clinician. Edfors is joining Kancera from a role as global medical affairs physician, Cardiovascular Studies & Pipeline, at Bayer AG. Prior to Bayer, Edfors worked as cardiologist at the Karolinska university hospital. Edfors has a medical degree from the University of Copenhagen and holds a PhD in cardiology from the Karolinska Institute.

Kancera today also announces that the management team is extended with two new positions:

• Johan Schultz, PhD, is appointed as Vice President Research & Development Operations, responsible for preclinical development and R&D Operations. Schultz, who has worked at Kancera since 2013, has more than 30 years of combined experience in academic research in the pharmaceutical industry. Schultz holds a Master of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Uppsala and a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Stockholm.
• Maria Sahlberg is recruited to the new role of Vice President Regulatory Affairs & Compliance, responsible for regulatory affairs, quality assurance and GxP and data protection compliance. Sahlberg has more than 15 years of regional and global regulatory affairs experience covering both marketed products and clinical development. Prior to joining Kancera, Sahlberg worked in various regulatory affairs positions at e.g. Baxter, Sobi and Inceptua, as well as a regulatory consultant at Vosin Consulting in the UK. Sahlberg holds a Master of Science degree in pharmacy from the University of Uppsala.

In addition to the management team positions above, Kancera also announces that Roger Sohlberg is recruited to the new role of Director Chemistry Manufacturing & Control (CMC). Sohlberg is responsible for the management of outsourced manufacturing of drug substance and drug product for clinical studies. Sohlberg has approximately 25 years of experience of process development and manufacturing in the pharmaceutical industry, covering both inhouse and outsourced manufacturing. Prior to joining Kancera, Sohlberg held various CMC positions at Astra Zeneca, Recipharm, Fresenius Kabi and Vivesto. Sohlberg holds a Master of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Uppsala.

About Kancera AB (publ)
Kancera is developing a new class of small molecule drugs targeting the fractalkine axis. Kancera’s main focus is to develop its candidate drugs for treatment of severe inflammatory diseases and cancer that currently lack effective treatments. The stock is traded on the Nasdaq First North Premier Growth Market. FNCA Sweden AB is the company's Certified Adviser.

For further information:
Visit Kancera’s website: www.kancera.com

or contact:
ir@kancera.com or phone: +46 (0)8-5012 60 80