Last checked at 
(Alliance News) - Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals PLC on Wednesday named Koen van Besien as its new medical director.
Shares in the London-based developer of drugs for blood diseases were up 4.0% to 1.70 pence each in London on Wednesday afternoon.
Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals said that van Besien has been closely associated with the company as its scientific adviser since it was founded in 2012. Now that it is moving towards clinical trials, Hemogenyx said that he will step up to the role of medical director, where he will be actively engaged in refining the protocol for the trials and its implementation.
Van Besien is also chief of the Hematology division and head of the Wesley Center for Immunotherapy at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center, a cellular therapy facility in Ohio.
Further, he is editor in chief of the Journal of Leukemia & Lymphoma. Over the course of his career, Van Besien has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals added.
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer Vladislav Sandler said: "Koen's rich experience and deep insight into the cutting-edge treatments of patients suffering from blood cancers will undoubtedly help to accelerate Hemogenyx Pharmaceuticals' product candidates, and specifically in the short term the transition into the clinic of Hemo-Car-T, our lead product candidate."
By Sophie Rose; sophierose@alliancenews.com
Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
