Aprea Therapeutics Appoints Fouad Namouni, M.D. and Richard Peters, M.D., Ph.D. to Board of Directors

BOSTON, June 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aprea Therapeutics Inc., (NASDAQ: APRE), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing novel cancer therapeutics that reactivate mutant p53 tumor suppressor protein, today announced the appointments of Fouad Namouni, M.D. and Richard Peters, M.D., Ph.D. to its Board of Directors. In addition, Guido Magni, M.D., Ph.D. will step down from the Company’s Board of Directors, effective June 30, 2020.

Fouad Namouni, M.D., brings more than 20 years of oncology and immuno-oncology drug development expertise, most recently serving as Senior Vice President & Head of Oncology Development at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), with responsibility for driving product development plans from early-stage clinical development through commercialization. Prior to serving as Head of Oncology Development, Dr. Namouni was Head of Medical Affairs at BMS and prior to that position, he was Head of Development for Opdivo and Yervoy, immunotherapy medications used in the treatment of cancer. Dr. Namouni holds an M.D. degree from the University of Annaba Medical School in Algeria, and a Pediatrics degree from Université Rene Descartes in Paris, France. In addition, he received a Pediatric Oncology and Hematology degree and M.S. in clinical and experimental pharmacology from Université Paris-Sud in France.

Richard Peters, M.D., Ph.D, brings more than 25 years of experience developing new therapies for difficult-to-treat diseases. He currently serves as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director at Yumanity Therapeutics Inc. Dr. Peters joined Yumanity from Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where he was President & Chief Executive Officer. Prior to Merrimack, he served as Senior Vice President and Head, Global Rare Diseases at Genzyme (Sanofi). Dr. Peters is a Harvard-trained physician and scientist, has served on the faculty at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and completed a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Fellowship in biophysics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Peters holds M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Medical University of South Carolina.

“Both Drs. Namouni and Peters are distinguished industry leaders with years of experience in advancing important new therapeutics to patients in need,” said Christian S. Schade, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aprea Therapeutics. “Their advice and counsel will be invaluable as Aprea continues with its progress to advance our mutant p53 reactivator oncology programs. We are thrilled to welcome Fouad and Richard to the Aprea team and our Board of Directors. Finally, on behalf of the Board of Directors and all Aprea employees, we are grateful to Guido Magni for his years of strategic insight and guidance throughout his tenure on Aprea’s Board.”