Artax Biopharma Appoints Andre Hoekema, Ph.D., to Company’s Board of Directors

Artax Biopharma, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on transforming the treatment of T-cell-mediated diseases, today announces the Company has appointed Andre Hoekema to the Company’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Hoekema joins the Artax Biopharma Board of Directors as the Company is currently evaluating AX-158 in clinical trials. AX-158 is the Company’s first-in-class, oral small molecule, an investigational immunomodulating agent that selectively acts at the T-cell receptor to lower self-antigen triggered cytokines, a known cause of autoimmune disease. Importantly, AX-158 has the potential to treat multiple T-cell-mediated diseases without causing immunosuppression.

“We are privileged to welcome Dr. Hoekema to our Board of Directors, as he brings more than four decades of significant collaboration experience gained through a successful business development career in the biotech and life sciences sectors,” said Joseph Lobacki, Artax Biopharma’s Chief Executive Officer. “His expertise will be of significant value to the Company as we seek to bring our promising first-in-class, oral, non-immunosuppresive treatment option forward for the benefit of autoimmune patients.”

Andre Hoekema, Ph.D., earned both his master’s and his doctoral degrees from Leiden University. Dr. Hoekema most recently retired from Galapagos N.V. where he served as Chief Business Officer since 2005. In that role he oversaw the Company’s Mergers & Acquisitions, Pharma Partnering, and Intellectual Property functions.

Prior to Galapagos N.V., Dr. Hoekema’s successful biotech industry career included previous positions of increasing seniority at various corporations, including Invitrogen Corporation, where he was Managing Director, Corporate Development Europe; Managing Director at Molecular Probes Europe BV, and Crucell N.V., where he was Director of Business Development. At DSM Life Sciences N.V., and Syngenta MOGEN BV he led the research and project management functions on behalf of both companies. Dr. Hoekema started his career as a research scientist at Genentech, Inc.

Dr. Hoekema has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles and has been granted more than 20 patents. He also serves as a supervisory board member of early-stage biotech companies Fibrocor Therapeutics, located in Canada, and Mimetas B.V. and Sapreme Technologies B.V., both headquartered in Holland.