Full Press Release Details
Therapeutics Appoints Michael A. Kelly to Board of Directors
BOSTON, MA., September 29, 2020
(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Aprea Therapeutics Inc., (NASDAQ: APRE), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing
and commercializing novel cancer therapeutics that reactivate mutant p53 tumor suppressor protein, today announced the appointment
of Michael A. Kelly to its Board of Directors. Mr. Kelly will serve as a member of the audit committee and nominating and corporate
governance committee.
Mr. Kelly brings more than 20
years of executive leadership in the life sciences industry, including 14 years in senior leadership roles with Amgen Inc., and
is the Founder and President of Sentry Hill Partners, LLC, a global life sciences management consulting business. Prior to founding
Sentry Hill Partners, Mr. Kelly held multiple finance and operations positions at Amgen, most recently serving as Senior Vice
President of Global Business Services and, in 2010 and 2014, was acting CFO. Prior to Amgen, he held senior and executive leadership
positions at Tanox, Inc. Biogen, Inc., and Monsanto Life Sciences. Mr. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration
from Florida A&M University.
"Michael Kelly is a distinguished
industry executive with considerable experience in the management and growth of innovative life sciences companies," said
Christian S. Schade, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aprea Therapeutics. "His deep operational and financial expertise
will be invaluable as Aprea continues with its progress to advance our mutant p53 reactivator oncology programs toward commercialization.
It is a great pleasure to welcome Michael to the Aprea team and our Board of Directors."
About Aprea Therapeutics
Aprea Therapeutics, Inc., (NASDAQ:
APRE) is a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with research facilities in Stockholm, Sweden, focused
on developing and commercializing novel cancer therapeutics that reactivate the mutant tumor suppressor protein p53. The Company's
lead product candidate is APR-246 (eprenetapopt), a small molecule in clinical development for hematologic malignancies,
including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). APR-246 has received Breakthrough Therapy, Orphan
Drug and Fast Track designations from the FDA for MDS, and Orphan Drug designation from the European Commission for MDS, AML and
ovarian cancer. For more information, please visit the company website at www.aprea.com.
The Company may use, and intends
to use, its investor relations website at https://ir.aprea.com/ as a means of disclosing material nonpublic information
and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
About p53 and APR-246
The p53 tumor suppressor gene
is the most frequently mutated gene in human cancer, occurring in approximately 50% of all human tumors. These mutations are often
associated with resistance to anti-cancer drugs and poor overall survival, representing a major unmet medical need in the treatment
APR-246 is a small molecule
that has demonstrated reactivation of mutant and inactivated p53 protein - by restoring wild-type p53 conformation and
function - and thereby induce programmed cell death in human cancer cells. Pre-clinical anti-tumor activity has been
observed with APR-246 in a wide variety of solid and hematological cancers, including MDS, AML, and ovarian cancer, among
others. Additionally, strong synergy has been seen with both traditional anti-cancer agents, such as chemotherapy, as well as
newer mechanism-based anti-cancer drugs and immuno-oncology checkpoint inhibitors. In addition to pre-clinical
testing, a Phase 1/2 clinical program with APR-246 has been completed, demonstrating a favorable safety profile and both
biological and confirmed clinical responses in hematological malignancies and solid tumors with mutations in the TP53
A pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial
of APR-246 and azacitidine for frontline treatment of TP53 mutant MDS is ongoing. APR-246 has received Breakthrough Therapy,
Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for MDS, and Orphan Drug designation from the
European Medicines Agency for MDS, AML and ovarian cancer.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained
in this press release includes "forward-looking statements", within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, related to our clinical trials and regulatory
submissions. We may, in some cases use terms such as "predicts," "believes," "potential,"
"continue," "anticipates," "estimates," "expects," "plans," "intends,"
"may," "could," "might," "likely," "will," "should" or
other words that convey uncertainty of the future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking
statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of our management team that involve risks, potential changes in circumstances,
assumptions, and uncertainties. Any or all of the forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong or be affected by inaccurate
assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks
and uncertainties including risks related to the success and timing of our clinical trials or other studies and the other risks
set forth in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended June 30, 2020. For all these reasons, actual results and developments could be materially different from those
expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which are made only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking
statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
Sr. Vice President and Chief
Vice President of Business Development
Source: Aprea Therapeutics, Inc.