Galera Therapeutics, Inc. announced the appointment of Eugene P. Kennedy, M.D., F.A.C.S., as Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Kennedy is a renowned Johns Hopkins-trained surgical oncologist and former Chief of Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University with over 15 years' experience in clinical development and biopharma leadership. He will succeed Jon T. Holmlund, M.D., who will retire at the end of this year.

In the interim, Dr. Kennedy and Dr. Holmlund will work together closely to ensure a smooth and successful transition, with particular focus on the preparation for the Company's submission of an NDA to the U.S. FDA for avasopasem by the end of 2022. Before joining Galera, Dr. Kennedy served as Chief Medical Officer at Innovative Cellular Therapeutics, where he was an integral part of developing the Phase 1 clinical protocol and filing a first-in-human IND for a solid tumor CAR T-cell therapy. Previously, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Lumos Pharma, where he was responsible for clinical development strategy and execution, as well as investor and patient outreach.

Prior to Lumos, Dr. Kennedy served as Chief Medical Officer at NewLink Genetics, where he oversaw clinical trials across multiple product candidates and indications. Prior to joining NewLink Genetics, he served as Associate Professor of Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University and held leadership positions as Chief of the Section of Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Surgery and Co-Director of the Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary, and Related Cancers Center. Dr. Kennedy also has practiced, taught, and held leadership roles at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and Louisiana State University and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Kennedy received a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and an M.D. from the Medical College of Virginia.