Profile

Sutro Biopharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage company relentlessly focused on the discovery and development of precisely designed cancer therapeutics, to transform what science can do for patients. Sutro’s fit-for-purpose technology, including cell-free XpressCF®, provides the opportunity for broader patient benefit and an improved patient experience. Sutro has multiple clinical stage candidates, including luveltamab tazevibulin, or luvelta, a registrational-stage folate receptor alpha (FolRα)-targeting ADC in clinical studies. A robust pipeline, coupled with high-value collaborations and industry partnerships, validates Sutro’s continuous product innovation. Sutro is headquartered in South San Francisco.

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Key Products

Sutro’s fit-for-purpose technology, including cell-free XpressCF®, provides the opportunity for broader patient benefit and an improved patient experience. Sutro has multiple clinical stage candidates, including luveltamab tazevibulin, or luvelta, a registrational-stage folate receptor alpha (FolRα)-targeting ADC in clinical studies.

• STRO-002 or luvelta, a folate receptor alpha (FolRα)-targeting ADC, in clinical studies for ovarian and endometrial cancers


• STRO-003, a ROR1-targeting ADC, solid tumors & hematological cancers


• STRO-004, a tissue factor ADC, solid tumors


• MK-1484, a selective IL-2 agonist, part of Sutro’s collaboration with Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, in clinical studies as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of solid tumors.


• Immunostimulatory ADC (iADC), part of Sutro’s collaboration with Astellas Pharma (Astellas).


• VAX-24, a 24-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, Sutro’s platform technology enabled the spin out of Vaxcyte (Nasdaq: PCVX), in clinical studies for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease.
  
  

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Sutro's Video

Key Executives

William J. Newell, J.D., Chief Executive Officer

William J. Newell has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our Board of Directors since January 2009. Previously, he served as the President of Aerovance, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on respiratory diseases, from 2006 to 2007. Mr. Newell has also served as the Chief Business Officer and Senior Vice President at QLT Inc., in several senior management positions at Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and has experience as a corporate lawyer. Mr. Newell currently serves on the boards of directors of Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s (BIO) Health Section, Emerging Company Section and is a member of BIO’s executive committee. He was previously a member of California Life Science’s (CLS) executive committee and served on CLS’s board of directors. Mr. Newell received an A.B. in Government from Dartmouth College and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

Jane Chung, R.Ph., President & Chief Operating Officer

Jane Chung, RPh has over 20 years of pharmaceutical and biotechnology experience and serves as our President and Chief Operating Officer since December 2023 and previously our Chief Commercial Officer since August 2021. From 2015 to 2021, Ms. Chung served in several leadership roles at AstraZeneca, including as President and General Manager of AstraZeneca Canada, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of U.S. lmmuno-Oncology, and Senior Commercial Business Director. Prior to that, from 2013 to 2015, Ms. Chung served as a Regional Sales Director and Director of Sales Productivity and Effectiveness for Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc. From 2003 to 2013, she served in various commercial roles for Genentech, Inc., including as Commercial Operations Manager, Division Manager and Senior Marketing Manager. Ms. Chung also serves on the Board of Directors of Viracta Therapeutics, Inc. and on non-profit boards in the science, education, and community development arenas. Ms. Chung received her B.A. from Columbia University, New York, and B.S. in Pharmacy from St. John’s University, New York.

Edward Albini, M.B.A., Chief Financial Officer

Edward Albini has served as our Chief Financial Officer since January 2013. During 2012, Mr. Albini served as a consulting Chief Financial Officer for Carbylan Biosurgery, a company focused on the development and commercialization of advanced biomaterial-based joint therapies. From 2011 to 2016, Mr. Albini also served as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary for Itero Holdings, LLC, a successor entity to Itero Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a company focused on the development and commercialization of protein therapeutics, at which Mr. Albini served as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President from 2009 to 2011. Previously, Mr. Albini served as Chief Financial Officer of Novacea, Inc. and Lynx Therapeutics, Inc., both biopharmaceutical companies. Mr. Albini received a B.S.C. in Accounting from Santa Clara University and an M.B.A. from the Walter A. Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Albini is also a certified public accountant (inactive status) in California.

Linda Fitzpatrick, Chief People & Communications Officer

Linda Fitzpatrick has served as our Chief People and Communications Officer since August 2018. From January 2008 to August 2018, Ms. Fitzpatrick served as our VP of Human Resources and Communications in the capacity of Senior Advisor. In addition to her strategic consulting practice, she co-founded Parallax Venture Partners, an early stage health care venture fund in April 2002. From October 1992 to March 2002, Ms. Fitzpatrick served as Vice President of Human Resources, Corporate Communications and Operations for Gilead Sciences, Inc. and from February 1985 to September 1992 she served as Director of Investor Relations and Director of Compensation, Benefits and Systems for Genentech, Inc., in addition to heading the human resources and corporate communications strategy for a variety of publicly held biotechnology companies. Ms. Fitzpatrick also serves on a variety of non-profit boards, including board chair roles, in the science, education and community development arenas. Ms. Fitzpatrick received a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from San Francisco State University.

Anne Borgman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Anne Borgman is an accomplished CMO, business executive, scientific advisor and board director with 20+ years of experience devising clinical development strategies and successfully leading teams to excellence and timely execution in oncology-hematology drug approvals. Dr. Borgman’s strength lies in her ability to organize and galvanize teams to fulfil mission critical business objectives. She is a creative problem solver and developer of human capital. Her broad network, depth of regulatory interactions and experience developing oncology and hematology drugs enables her to quickly synthesize the competitive landscape and collaborate with key stakeholders to forge a strategic path forward in a complex landscape.

Dr. Borgman has led teams to successful approval of several oncology assets. Most recently while Therapeutic Area Head Hematology-Oncology and Vice President at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, she led a successful filing for a recombinant asparaginase using the intensive Real Time Oncology Review process and expanded filings for other hematology-oncology assets. Prior, while Vice President at Exelixis, Inc. she led several successful filings for the lead asset cabozantinib, including a U.S. and European approval in renal cell carcinoma, a U.S. and European approval in hepatocellular carcinoma and a European approval in medullary thyroid carcinoma. Additionally, Dr. Borgman led the filing for an accelerated approval for liposomal vincristine in adult relapsed acute lymphoblastic lymphoma while Chief Medical Officer at Hana Biosciences. Dr. Borgman created the early development strategies for the Bcl-2/Bcl-XL inhibitor (now venetoclax) and veliparib while Global Project Head for Abbott Laboratories.

In addition to her strong core competency in hematology oncology drug development, she has led companies through growth phases at every stage in her career. Her ability to build strong partnerships across the healthcare sector, both internally and externally, has delivered proven results throughout her career, with patient benefit at the center.

She serves on the Board of Directors of NextCure, Inc., a biotechnology company at the nexus of immuno-oncology and targeted therapies, Curis, a biotechnology company focused on targeted therapies for AML, and NiKang, a privately owned clinical stage biotech company focused on discovering and developing innovative small molecule oncology medicines. She is an active mentor and passionate about cancer treatment, as evidenced by her role on the advisory boards of Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA), Y-ME National Breast Cancer Association, Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, CureSearch for Children’s Cancers, and prior volunteer faculty positions in pediatric hematology oncology and stem cell transplant at both the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. She uses her knowledge, energy and engaging style to facilitate awareness, connect and innovate.

Dr. Borgman received an M.D. from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She received a BS degree in Biochemistry from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Borgman completed a Residency in Pediatrics from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and a Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. In addition, Dr. Borgman is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program and an alumni of Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.

Hans-Peter Gerber, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer

Hans-Peter Gerber is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in oncology drug development, including antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), redirected T-cell targeting compounds (bispecifics), and adoptive T-cell therapies (TCR-T and CAR-T cells). He has built and led highly successful drug development teams in pharma, biotech, and startup companies and oversaw the preclinical development of therapeutic programs in oncology, from target identification to IND filings.

Hans-Peter is the co-founder of Codeable Therapeutics, an ADC startup company focusing on the development of next-generation ADCs that induce immunogenic cell death. He also serves as independent board member at Athebio, a startup company located in Basel, Switzerland developing the next generation of Darpin biotherapeutics and as Chairman of the Board at T-CURX, a startup company located in Wuerzburg, Germany, dedicated to the development of next-generation CAR-T cell therapies.

From 2018 to 2022, Hans-Peter served as CSO and SVP of 3T Biosciences, where he built up the research organization to over 30 FTEs. He oversaw target identification, platform- and preclinical program development of TCR-T cell and CD3-bispecific programs targeting pHLA complexes. He completed an series A round as interim CEO in June 2021.Between 2017 and 2021, he served as an independent director on the board of NBE Therapeutics, a clinical-stage ADC company located in Basel, Switzerland, which was acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim in Q1/21.From 2016 to 2018, he built up the R&D organization at Maverick Therapeutics to 25 FTEs as President and CSO in the context of a “build to buy” collaboration with Takeda. Takeda exercised its option to acquire Maverick in Q1/21, after the Maverick team successfully filed two INDs for conditional CD3-bispecifics.

Prior to his recent roles in startup Biotechs, Hans-Peter held leadership positions at several top biopharmaceutical companies, including Genentech, Seattle Genetics, and Pfizer, where he led the R&D group in Pearl River, NY, as CSO. During this time, he oversaw the development of multiple oncology biotherapeutic programs and modalities, from discovery through IND filings. He oversaw the development of novel, site specific ADC platforms with various linker and payloads and bispecific compounds redirecting T-cell to tumors. His teams contributed to three BLAs, including Avastin and two ADCs (Mylotarg, Besponsa), and he led the filing of over ten INDs for ADCs and bispecifics, several of which are currently undergoing late-stage clinical trials.

Hans-Peter is an author on over 100 peer-reviewed papers and reviews in high-impact journals and a co-inventor on over 100 issued patents. He received an MS in Biochemistry and a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Zurich, Switzerland.

Nicki Vasquez, Ph.D., Chief Portfolio Strategy & Alliance Officer

Dr. Vasquez has more than 25 years of biopharmaceutical discovery research and development experience and has lead our alliance and portfolio management since 2015. Prior to joining Sutro, she was Vice President of Program & Portfolio Management at StemCells, Inc., where she was responsible for establishing project management of research and clinical stage programs exploring neuronal stem cell therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease, spinal cord injury and dry AMD. Prior to that she was at Elan, where she held positions of increasing responsibility from Alzheimer’s Disease and autoimmune discovery research, to Vice President Research Operations & Program Management, and Vice President Development Program & Portfolio Management. Dr. Vasquez obtained her doctoral degree in immunology from the University of California, San Diego, and received her post-doctoral training at Genentech.

Dr. Vasquez serves on the Board of Directors for Actinogen Medical and was honored as one of Fierce Pharma 2021 Fiercest Women in Life Sciences.

Venkatesh Srinivasan, Ph.D., Chief Technical Operations Officer

Venkatesh Srinivasan, Ph.D. has served as our Chief Technical Operations Officer since May 2023. From April 2022 to May 2023, Dr. Srinivasan served as our Senior Vice President, Process, Analytical and Formulation Development. Prior to that, from March 2011 to March 2022, Dr. Srinivasan worked at Bayer AG, where he was most recently, the Vice President of Global Manufacturing Sciences and Technology. Dr. Srinivasan also co-founded GlycoRx Partners, LLC, a company focused on developing novel, half-life extended pharmaceutical proteins and peptides based on a unique glycoengineering platform, where he was a partner from 2009 to 2011. Prior to that, Dr. Srinivasan worked for Phyton Biotech, LLC where he served as Senior Director, Bioprocess Development and Director, Business Development. Dr. Srinivasan received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai, and his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the State University of New York. He also held post-doctoral appointments at the School of Engineering, Cornell University, and at the Antibody Engineering Laboratory, University of California, Davis.

David Pauling, J.D., M.A., General Counsel

Mr. Pauling joined Sutro in 2011 and has since held positions of increasing responsibility, including Intellectual Property Counsel, Associate General and Senior Intellectual Property Counsel, and most recently Executive Director of Legal Affairs. Prior to joining Sutro, Mr. Pauling practiced law at Jones Day and at Pennie & Edmonds, LLP. Mr. Pauling received his J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law (magna cum laude), and an M.A. in Molecular Biology and a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

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Organizational Insights

Sutro strives to create an environment in which each Sutroite is respected and valued. They are a team that embraces members from all races, ethnicities, nationalities, gender-identities, ages, sexual orientations, abilities, and disabilities. They are aligned by a single, shared purpose; to bring life-saving and life-extending medicines to cancer patients. They know each day matters to them. They are relentless in their pursuit; success is dependent on contributions from every member of their team.

They do their best to listen and learn from one another. They build upon the ideas of each other; this makes each of them better and is critical to success. They are on an important mission and they give their absolute best to their colleagues and to their work, every day.

Corporate Responsibility

• Environmental Sustainability
  
  Embedding environmental sustainability into Sutro’s DNA is a momentous challenge. We are in a decisive decade to act against climate change, and bold actions resulting in measurable impact shared across the industry are needed to accelerate the pace of change. As part of our commitment, Sutro Biopharma manages our internal operations in ways that are both socially and ecologically responsible. We constantly search for new innovations that will help our operations and our teams minimize environmental impact and sustain healthy communities.


• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Initiative (DEIB)
  
  Diversity matters. We value our differences and fundamentally believe our differences strengthen us. We strive to treat everyone with respect and with fairness. We think beyond what’s important to us; we include others and different points of view. As a Sutroite you belong – to our purpose, to each other, and to our community.


• Volunteer Initiative
  
  Sutro collaborates bi-monthly with local and global non-profit organizations to make an intrinsic tangible difference by engaging in fulfilling activities and witnessing the positive impact firsthand.


• Core Operating Principles
  
  At Sutro, collaboration drives how they achieve results. By putting the goals of Sutro first, they aim to make a difference in the lives of patients. They strive to make a difference as individuals and as part of a team. They do all that they can to do their best work every day; working collaboratively towards goals which are met most effectively by valuing the importance of working together with purpose. Below are the guiding principles that inform how they collaborate with excellence.