Ambrx Biopharma Inc. appoints Daniel O’Connor as CEO

Ambrx Biopharma Inc., or Ambrx, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company using an expanded genetic code technology platform to create Engineered Precision Biologics (EPBs), today announced the appointment of Daniel O’Connor as Chief Executive Officer.

“On behalf of the board of directors and management team, I would like to welcome Dan to Ambrx. I very much look forward to working with him to execute on Ambrx’s new strategic direction,” said Katrin Rupalla, Chair of Ambrx’s Board of Directors. “Dan is the ideal candidate for the role of CEO, given his extensive leadership experience in oncology drug development, strategic partnership formation, and streamlining operations within the biotech industry. I would also like to thank Kate Hermans, our interim CEO and board member, for her hard work, dedication, and leadership over the past several months to reprioritize Ambrx’s development pipeline.”

“I am thrilled by the opportunity to lead Ambrx as the company focuses on the development of ARX517, potentially the first PSMA-targeting ADC therapy for prostate cancer,” said Daniel O’Connor, chief executive officer of Ambrx. “Ambrx’s proprietary EPB platform enables us to produce biologic product candidates with highly stable, site-specific conjugation, thereby overcoming the inherent limitations of conventional drug conjugation approaches. This has the potential to play a key role in changing the current treatment paradigm for cancer patients. I look forward to working together with the Ambrx management team to bring the promise of Ambrx’s technology to cancer patients currently underserved by the standard of care.”

O’Connor has over 23 years of executive experience and leadership in all aspects of the biopharmaceutical industry, including CEO leadership of two public oncology-focused companies, OncoSec Medical and Advaxis, Inc., as well as C-Suite leadership roles at ImClone Systems, Bracco Diagnostics, and PharmaNet, Inc. (today, Syneos Health). He has a proven record of accomplishment in oncology drug development, with a focus on business strategy, clinical execution, product development, business transformation and corporate development. He has overseen the successful initiation of several early phase oncology clinical trials, including combination trials with several different FDA approved checkpoint inhibitors. Additionally, he has led numerous life science licensing transactions and drug development collaborations with major pharmaceutical companies and has raised hundreds of millions in the capital marketplace. O’Connor earned a J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law of Pennsylvania State University and a B.A. from Boston University. Business Wire