London, 21st December 2023 – LIfT BioSciences, (‘LIfT’ or ‘the Company’), a rapidly emerging
biotech company bringing to market a first-in-class allogeneic innate cell therapy, today announces
the appointments of Dr Bo Rode Hansen PhD, MBA and Dr Marco Gottardis, PhD as Non-Executive
Directors of its Board.
Bo brings over two decades of transformational leadership experience involving general management,
R&D, BD, financing, IPO and M&A in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. He currently advises
Novo Seeds (Novo Holdings), a life science investment company, and is Founder and Chairman of
Aloop Therapeutics, which focuses on second generation mRNA medicines. He previously served as
the CEO and President of Scandion Oncology A/S, a Danish cancer drug resistance company. Prior to
this, Bo held several leadership positions including CEO & founding president of Genevant Sciences,
GM (CEO) of Roche Innovation Centre Copenhagen and vice-president of Santaris Pharma A/S. He
holds a MSc and PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Copenhagen and an executive MBA from
Henley Business School.
Marco joins the Board with over 38 years of experience working in translational cancer research,
having worked over multiple drug approvals in his career. In 2023, he retired from his role as VP of
Oncology and Innovation at Janssen, prior to which he held the role of Prostate DAS Leader. Before
his time at Janssen, Marco served as Executive Director of Oncology and Immuno-Oncology Research,
and co-leader of the Oncology Discovery Group at Bristol Myers Squibb, where he led multiple
scientific teams covering diverse target areas. Marco holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin
and a BSc from Columbia University.
Alex Blyth, Chief Executive Officer of LIfT BioSciences commented: “On behalf of the
board, I’m delighted to welcome both Bo and Marco onto our Board of Directors as key hires for
LIfT’s next phase as we move into license deals. Bo is a highly respected bioentrepreneur and driver
of corporate innovation who has successfully taken early-stage companies through to successful
exits. Bo understands how to structure innovative deals with, and in, big pharma to drive successful
outcomes for both parties – having sat both sides of the fence. Marco is a highly respected scientific
leader who has been instrumental in bringing about breakthrough innovation in BMS and JnJ.
Marco knows how to create the scientific case to bring about deals that are transformative for both
entities. Both will prove invaluable in our mission to redefine what is possible across oncology,
immunology, neurology and AMR through our unique Immuno-Modulatory Alpha Neutrophil
technology.”
Dr Bo Rode Hansen, Non-Executive Director of the Board commented: “I’m pleased to join
LIfT at this pivotal time, as we look to move our allogeneic first-in-class neutrophil-based cell
therapies into clinical development. I look forward to collaborating with Alex and the rest of the
Board.”
Dr Marco Gottardis, Non-Executive Director of the Board commented: “I’m delighted to be
joining LIfT Biosciences, a company at the forefront of innovative cancer therapies. I look forward
to contributing to the Company's continuously developing ground-breaking research, as we work
towards entering clinical trials with the goal of developing affordable, effective treatments for
patients.”
About LIfT BioSciences
LIfT BioSciences is a biotech bringing to market a first-in-class alpha neutrophil cell therapy that
overcomes the limitations of current therapies in solid tumours by destroying tumours both directly
and indirectly. LIfT’s Immunomodulatory Alpha Neutrophils (IMANs) turn the tumour
microenvironment against the tumour as they recruit the rest of the immune system to destroy the
tumour to give a durable response and lasting immunity. The patented breakthrough N-LIfT platform
is produced from a patented process using exceptional stem cells (iPSC or HSC), a proprietary
enhancement media and genetic engineering (e.g. CARs). The resulting CAR-IMAN cells give cancer
patients potentially hundreds of times the cancer killing ability they naturally possess.
The company is working with a range of pharmaceutical license partners across oncology,
immunology, neurology and AMR to develop a portfolio of immune-modulatory. LIfT is committed to
delivering complete remission in high unmet need solid tumours before the decade is out. LIfT
BioSciences was founded by Alex Blyth following the death of his mother to pancreatic cancer. See