Avacta Group PLC has announced the appointment of Dr. Christina Coughlin, M.D., Ph.D. as the Head of Research and Development, marking a significant transition for the company. Dr. Coughlin, who has been a Non-executive Director of Avacta Group since March 2022, will now oversee all clinical development and pre-clinical research activities of the Therapeutics Division. Her extensive experience in oncology research and development, as well as her leadership roles in biotech companies, positions her well to lead Avacta's clinical focus.
Dr. Coughlin's background includes roles in large pharmaceutical companies and senior leadership positions in biotech firms, where she led clinical development, translational medicine, and regulatory efforts across pipelines. Her appointment signifies Avacta's shift from a research organization to a clinical stage biotechnology company. Dr. Coughlin's expertise will be instrumental in driving the clinical development strategy for AVA6000, Avacta's lead pre|CISION™ tumour targeted therapy, and the broader drug pipeline strategy at the Company.
Dr. Fiona McLaughlin will step down as Chief Scientific Officer of the Therapeutics Division after three years in the role, and Dr. Coughlin will take up the permanent post of Head of Research and Development on 1st February. Dr. Coughlin expressed her dedication to leading the development of transformative and novel therapies for cancer patients and highlighted the potential of Avacta's pipeline of cancer therapies to represent the next frontier in oncology innovation.
Dr. Alastair Smith, Chief Executive of Avacta Group, expressed his delight at Dr. Coughlin assuming the full-time role, emphasizing her deep oncology research and development expertise and trans-Atlantic C-level experience. He also thanked Dr. McLaughlin for her significant contribution to the Therapeutics Division and its programmes. Avacta Group is focused on improving healthcare outcomes through targeted cancer treatments and diagnostics, with two divisions: an oncology biotech division and a diagnostics division. The company's proprietary platforms, Affimer® and pre|CISION™, underpin its cancer therapeutics, while the diagnostics division leverages the Affimer® platform to drive competitive advantage in its markets.