Replimune Announces Appointment of Sushil Patel to CEO and Executive Leadership Transitions

Philip Astley-Sparke to transition from current role of CEO to Executive Chairman

Planned leadership changes position the Company for commercialization

Preparations on track to submit RP1 biologics license application (BLA) in 2H 2024

WOBURN, Mass., March 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Replimune Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: REPL), a clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of a novel class of oncolytic immunotherapies, today announced changes to its executive leadership team designed to support the Company’s preparations for the commercial launch of RP1, pending regulatory submission and approval in anti-PD1 failed melanoma.

Sushil Patel, Ph.D., will succeed Philip Astley-Sparke as CEO effective April 1, 2024. Mr. Astley-Sparke will transition from his current role as CEO to Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. Dr. Patel joined Replimune three years ago initially as Chief Commercial Officer and served most recently as Chief Strategy Officer. He has more than 20 years of experience in the biotech industry including pre- and post-launch commercialization strategy and execution in both the U.S. and global markets. He has been involved in more than eight product launches in various roles of increasing responsibility across marketing, sales, and franchise management. Prior to joining Replimune, Dr. Patel served as franchise head for lung, skin and rare cancers at Genentech.

“Replimune is preparing to bring its first oncolytic immunotherapy to patients, and I am incredibly proud to be able to lead the Company through this next phase of growth as we transition to a commercial stage company,” said Sushil Patel. “In the near term, we will be laser focused on delivering on our strategic priorities, including the anti-PD1 failed melanoma data and subsequent biologics license application submission, as well as launching our confirmatory trial in melanoma.”

Additional changes include:

• Robert Coffin, Ph.D., Founder, President and Chief Research & Development Officer will move to an advisory role as Founder and Chief Scientist and will continue to serve on the Board of Directors.
• Paul Bullock is being appointed Chief Manufacturing Officer and will assume oversight of manufacturing and lead operations in Framingham and Milton Park in the United Kingdom, following the retirement of Colin Love, Ph.D., Chief Operations Officer, and co-founder, who established our manufacturing operations.
• Pamela Esposito, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer, and Tanya Lewis, Chief Development Operations Officer, will leave their executive positions and plan to continue to lend their functional expertise in an advisory capacity.