Lyell Immunopharma, Inc. announced that Rahsaan W. Thompson has joined the executive management team as chief legal officer. A biopharmaceutical industry veteran, Mr. Thompson has more than 20 years of experience with development stage and commercial companies. Before joining Lyell, Mr. Thompson was executive vice president and general counsel at Gritstone bio, where he was responsible for all legal aspects of corporate strategy, intellectual property, transactions, compliance and litigation matters.

Mr. Thompson was also general counsel for Opiant Pharmaceuticals. Previously, as the vice president of law for Actelion Pharmaceuticals, he led the Actelion law department in San Francisco. Before joining Actelion, he worked for the law firm of Quarles & Brady in Chicago.

Mr. Thompson was the associate general counsel at Abraxis Bioscience before its acquisition by Celgene. Mr. Thompson also served as corporate counsel at McKesson Corporation. He began his career as an assistant district attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney's office.

Mr. Thompson obtained his bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University and his law degree from Hofstra University. He has served on various non-profit boards and presently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Oakland Museum of California.