Dr Kunwar Shailubhai appointed CEO of Tiziana Life Sciences

London, UK-based biotechnology group Tiziana Life Sciences has appointed its non-executive director Dr Kunwar Shailubhai as chief executive officer and chief scientific officer.

He has 30 years’ experience in research and development specifically in gastrointestinal disorders, inflammatory diseases and cancers, and previously co-founded Synergy Pharmaceuticals and served as its chief scientific officer.

Shailubhai has also previously served at Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Monsanto Company and as a senior staff fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

He said: “This is a crucial time to be taking on this new role with Tiziana Life Sciences in what is one of the most vital yet underdeveloped research areas.

“NASH affects more than three million people in the UK alone and there is no cure, and now we have the team and the approach necessary to make important steps to manage this disease.”

Shailubhai takes the helm as Tiziana focuses on developing an orally administered, anti-CD3 mAb (foalumab) drug candidate to manage non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) - a liver disease that has no treatment available to sufferers.

Gabriele Cerrone, executive chairman at Tiziana Life Sciences, said: “Having Shaliubhai as our CEO demonstrates our commitment to put our research first and his expertise at some of the top pharmaceutical companies globally means Tiziana Life Sciences can go from strength to strength.

“In particular, his experience shows he knows what it takes to shepherd research from inception to FDA approval and I know his passion for this area of work will pay off.”