Core Viewpoint - Avacta Therapeutics has appointed Francis Wilson as Chief Scientific Officer, recognizing his significant contributions to the development of the pre|CISION oncology delivery platform and his leadership in medicinal chemistry [1][5]. Company Leadership - Francis Wilson joined Avacta in September 2022 as Vice President of Chemistry and has been pivotal in advancing the pre|CISION platform, particularly the FAP-Exd (AVA6103) program, which is expected to enter clinical testing soon [2][4]. - Former CSO Michelle Morrow will be leaving the company to pursue other opportunities, and the company expresses gratitude for her contributions [4]. Expertise and Background - Francis Wilson has extensive experience in medicinal chemistry, having held various positions at Roche, Xenova, Cellzome, and Summit Therapeutics, where he led multiple programs from discovery to clinical development [3]. - He holds a chemistry degree and a Doctor of Philosophy from Oxford University, and is a Chartered Chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry [4]. Strategic Direction - CEO Christina Coughlin emphasized Wilson's deep knowledge of the pre|CISION platform and his ability to foster innovation, which will be crucial as the company enters a significant phase of preclinical development and intellectual property generation [5]. - Wilson expressed enthusiasm for his new role and the opportunity to advance the AVA6103 program, highlighting the importance of developing novel intellectual property around the pre|CISION platform [6]. Technology Overview - The pre|CISION platform is a proprietary tumor-activated delivery system designed to concentrate potent cancer therapies in the tumor microenvironment while minimizing exposure to healthy tissues [9][11]. - It utilizes a tumor-specific protease (fibroblast activation protein or FAP) to release active payloads in the tumor, optimizing dosing and reducing systemic toxicity [11].