Kinnate Biopharma Adds Global Business and Oncology Expertise to Board of Directors

Kinnate Biopharma, a clinical-stage precision oncology company, has announced that its board of directors has appointed a new independent director, Jill DeSimone, who will join effective March 1, 2023. Ms. DeSimone brings more than forty years of global business expertise in life sciences to Kinnate’s board of directors.

Dean J. Mitchell, chairman of the Kinnate board of directors, commented, “I am honored to welcome Jill to the Kinnate board of directors. She is an ideal fit given her breadth of experience as a global business leader for multi-billion-dollar oncology medicines, strategic leadership in advancing product and portfolio strategy, and importantly her passion to innovate for patients. Her expertise complements the industry and scientific expertise of our other board members and will be invaluable during this transformative time for Kinnate.”

Most recently, Ms. DeSimone served as President of U.S. Oncology at Merck & Co., Inc., where she established the company’s oncology division, growing it from less than $500 million in annual revenue to $9 billion in just eight years. She led three key product launches and more than 45 indication launches, including Keytruda®, the fastest growing product in company history. Prior to joining Merck, Ms. DeSimone was Senior Vice President of Global Women’s Health at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., where she built its first global business unit. Ms. DeSimone began her career at Bristol Myers Squibb and held roles of increasing responsibility culminating as the Senior Vice President of U.S. Oncology, a role in which she helped launch the first FDA-approved CTLA-4 immune checkpoint inhibitor, Yervoy®.

Ms. DeSimone currently serves as a board member for Oncternal Therapeutics, a clinical-stage oncology company, Affini-T Therapeutics, an immune-oncology cell therapy company, the Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation, a nonprofit organization that delivers non-medical aid for individuals undergoing treatment for cancer, and Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc., a clinical-stage company focused on development of therapies for the central nervous system. She earned a B.S. in pharmacy from Northeastern University and completed a fellowship with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

“I am delighted to join the precision oncology and industry thought leaders of the Kinnate board at this important time in the company’s history,” Ms. DeSimone said. “I am drawn to Kinnate because its unique approach to discovering and developing cancer medicines stands out in the current targeted oncology landscape. I welcome the opportunity to work alongside the rest of the board to help Kinnate build on its substantial progress toward helping those battling cancer and supporting them in the next chapter of the company’s growth.”

“On behalf of the Kinnate team, I welcome Jill to the Kinnate board and look forward to working with her to advance the company’s mission. Her impressive background, proven leadership, and deep understanding of the oncology market brings important added experience and value to an already strong and diverse board,” said Nima Farzan, chief executive officer, Kinnate Biopharma.