Pyxis Oncology Announces Interim CEO Appointment and Leadership Transition to Support Strategic Focus and Program Continuity

Core Viewpoint - Pyxis Oncology, Inc. is undergoing a leadership transition with the appointment of Thomas Civik as Interim CEO, following the departure of Lara S. Sullivan, to ensure continuity in advancing the company's strategic and clinical goals [1][2][3]. Leadership Transition - Thomas Civik, a long-time member of the Board of Directors and an experienced biotechnology executive, has been appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer [2][4]. - Lara S. Sullivan has stepped down from her roles as President, CEO, and Chief Medical Officer after six years of leadership [2][4]. - The Board of Directors is conducting a structured search for a permanent CEO while maintaining operational continuity through the established clinical development leadership team [3][4]. Company Focus and Clinical Programs - Pyxis Oncology's lead program, micvotabart pelidotin (MICVO), is currently in a Phase 1 monotherapy study for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) and a Phase 1/2 study in combination with Merck's pembrolizumab [4][8]. - The company aims to prioritize the execution of its clinical programs and upcoming milestones, focusing on improving patient outcomes in difficult-to-treat cancers [5][8]. Background of Interim CEO - Thomas Civik previously served as President and CEO of Five Prime Therapeutics, leading its acquisition by Amgen for $1.9 billion in April 2021 [5][6]. - He has extensive experience in oncology development, having held leadership roles at Genentech for 17 years, overseeing key therapies such as Avastin and Tecentriq [6]. About Pyxis Oncology - Pyxis Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapeutics for difficult-to-treat cancers, with MICVO being a first-in-concept antibody-drug conjugate targeting extradomain-B of fibronectin [7][10]. - MICVO is designed to treat solid tumors through a multi-pronged mechanism of action, including direct tumor cell killing and mobilizing an anti-tumor immune response [10].