Protara Therapeutics Announces Appointment of Leonardo Viana Nicacio, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer

Core Viewpoint - Protara Therapeutics has appointed Dr. Leonardo Viana Nicacio as Chief Medical Officer, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in oncology and drug development to the company [1][2]. Company Overview - Protara Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing transformative therapies for cancer and rare diseases [5]. - The company's lead candidate, TARA-002, is an investigational cell-based therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and lymphatic malformations (LMs) [5]. - Protara is conducting a Phase 2 trial for TARA-002 in NMIBC patients who are unresponsive or naïve to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) treatment, as well as a Phase 2 trial in pediatric patients with LMs [5]. Leadership Appointment - Dr. Nicacio previously served as Head of Clinical Development and Global Medical Affairs at Stemline Therapeutics, where he established global solid tumor development strategies [2]. - His experience includes significant roles at Seagen, AstraZeneca, Flatiron Health, Sanofi, and YM Biosciences, focusing on oncology and drug development [3]. - Dr. Nicacio holds a Medical Degree from Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas de Minas Gerais and is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology [4]. Future Prospects - Dr. Nicacio expressed optimism about Protara's pipeline, highlighting the potential to impact patients with underserved cancers and rare diseases [4]. - Important milestones are anticipated, including the presentation of interim data from the ADVANCED-2 clinical trial of TARA-002 in NMIBC patients later this month [4]. Compensation Details - As part of his employment, Dr. Nicacio received an inducement grant of options to purchase 150,000 shares at an exercise price of $4.17, along with a restricted stock unit (RSU) award for 50,000 shares [6][7].