Full Press Release Details
Immunome Appoints Franklyn G. Prendergast, M.D.,
- Dr. Prendergast is a renowned scientific researcher
with over 45 years of association with the Mayo Foundation and over 20 years' experience as a non-executive director of Eli Lilly -
Exton, Pa., June 17, 2021 - Immunome,
Inc. (Nasdaq: IMNM), a biopharmaceutical company that utilizes its human memory B cell discovery engine platform to discover and develop
first-in-class antibody therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Franklyn G. Prendergast, M.D., Ph.D., to its Board of Directors.
Dr. Prendergast is a renowned medical and academic research professional who received the 2019 Mayo Distinguished Alumni award and has
over 45 years of association with the Mayo Foundation.
"I am delighted to welcome Dr. Prendergast
to Immunome's Board of Directors as we continue to attract a rich team of distinguished thought leaders to help drive the development
of our antibody therapies," said Purnanand Sarma, Ph.D., President and CEO of Immunome. "Dr. Prendergast's experience
will be invaluable in our mission to discover and develop novel antibody therapeutics for diseases with high unmet medical need."
"Immunome is entering an exciting period
in the company's history, as the group transitions from a preclinical to clinical setting," said Franklyn Prendergast, M.D.,
Ph.D. "With an innovative therapeutic platform and promising early data, I am excited to be joining Immunome's Board of Directors.
I look forward to working collaboratively with the rest of the Board and the company's executive leadership to maximize Immunome's
opportunities for the benefit of patients and our shareholders."
Dr. Prendergast received his medical degree with
honors from the University of the West Indies in 1968 and after an internship attended Lincoln College, University of Oxford, as a Rhodes
Scholar where he obtained a BA with First Class Honors in 1971 and MA in 1979. He commenced a residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo
Clinic in 1971 and subsequently obtained a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the joint Mayo Graduate School/ University of Minnesota program
Dr. Prendergast was appointed to the Faculty of
the Department of Pharmacology at the Mayo Graduate School immediately after receiving his Ph.D. and rose through the ranks quickly to
become a full Professor simultaneously in that Department and in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in 1986. That same
year, he was named the Edmond and Marion Guggenheim Professor and also Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Dr. Prendergast was appointed as the Director
for Research of Mayo Clinic, Rochester in 1989, serving for the subsequent four years in that capacity. In 1990, he was also appointed
to Mayo's highest administrative committees, the Board of Governors and the Mayo Foundation's Board of Trustees. He served on these bodies
continuously until 2009. In 1995, he was appointed as Director of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, a position he held until
September 2006. His last administrative role at Mayo was as the Charter Director of the Mayo Center for Individualized Medicine. He retired
from that position and also from the Mayo Foundation in December 2014.
Throughout his academic career, Dr. Prendergast
participated extensively in numerous NIH and NSF grant review groups, task forces and advisory committees. Additionally, he was appointed
as a non-executive member of the Board of Directors of Eli Lilly and Co., a post he held from 1995 until 2017. He has been awarded several
honors, including honorary doctorates from Purdue University and the University of the West Indies, Distinguished Alumni awards from the
University of the West Indies, University of Minnesota and, most recently, in 2019 the Mayo Clinic.
Over the past 20 years, Dr. Prendergast has served
on the Board of Directors or Scientific Advisory Board of several biotechnology companies.
Concurrent with Dr. Prendergast joining the Board,
Michael Widlitz, M.D., a long-term Director, will be stepping down. "Immunome's management and Board of Directors would like
to thank Dr. Widlitz for his service, and we are delighted to continue to work with him in his new role as Advisor, Medical Affairs,"
Immunome is a biopharmaceutical company that
utilizes its proprietary human memory B cell platform to discover and develop first-in-class antibody therapeutics that are designed
to change the way diseases are treated. The company's initial focus is on developing therapeutics to treat oncology and infectious
diseases, including COVID-19. Immunome's proprietary discovery engine identifies novel therapeutic antibodies and their targets
by leveraging the highly educated components of the immune system, memory B cells, from patients whose bodies have learned to fight off
their disease. For more information, please visit www.immunome.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain
disclosures that contain "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the "safe harbor" from
liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including, without limitation, express or
implied statements regarding Immunome's beliefs and expectations regarding the advancement of its oncology and COVID-19
therapeutic antibody programs, execution of its clinical and strategic plans, anticipated upcoming milestones for IMM-BCP-01 and
IMM ONC 01, including expectations regarding therapeutic potential and benefits thereof, and regulatory filings.
Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "anticipate," believe," "estimate,"
"expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "may," "will,"
"could," "should," "seek," "potential" and similar expressions. Forward-looking
statements are based on Immunome's current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that
are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, those risks and
uncertainties associated with: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Immunome's business, operations, strategy, goals and
anticipated milestones; Immunome's ability to execute on its strategy including with respect to the timing of its R&D
efforts, results, data, IND filings, initiation of clinical studies and other anticipated milestones; the timing and effectiveness
of any antibody therapeutics which may be developed by Immunome; Immunome's ability to fund operations; and the additional
risks and uncertainties set forth more fully under the caption "Risk Factors" in Immunome's Annual Report on Form
10-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 25, 2021, and elsewhere in Immunome's
filings and reports with the SEC. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Immunome
undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable law.
Chief Financial Officer
Immunome Media Contact
Megan McGrath or Nick Chang