Orca Bio Bolsters Leadership Team with Key Hires as Cell Therapy Commercialization Looms

Orca Bio, a California-based biotechnology company, is making significant strides in the cell therapy market with strategic additions to its leadership team. The company has announced several key appointments, including a new chief commercial officer and senior vice president of legal affairs, as it prepares for the potential commercialization of its lead product, Orca-T.

Steve Gavel Appointed as Chief Commercial Officer

In a move that underscores its commitment to bringing innovative cell therapies to market, Orca Bio has hired Steve Gavel as its new chief commercial officer. Gavel brings a wealth of experience in cell therapy commercialization, having spent eight years in the field with notable tenures at industry leaders Legend Biotech and Celgene.

At Legend Biotech, Gavel played a crucial role in scaling the commercial group to support the launch of Carvykti, a CAR-T therapy for multiple myeloma. Prior to that, he was instrumental in developing the launch plan for Abecma at Celgene. This expertise positions Gavel well to lead Orca Bio's commercial strategy as the company approaches a potential market entry.

Orca Bio's CEO, Nate Fernhoff, Ph.D., commented on the appointment, stating, "Steve is a cell therapy veteran with a proven track record of building and scaling organizations in preparation for commercialization. As we prepare for the commercial launch of Orca-T, Steve brings a perfect combination of background, experience and strategic vision to lead Orca Bio into this next phase of growth and maturation."

Strengthening Legal and Commercial Capabilities

Alongside Gavel's appointment, Orca Bio has also announced the hiring of Allison Frisbee as senior vice president of legal. Frisbee's background includes roles as chief administrative officer at Kronos Bio and leadership positions in the legal departments of Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Bristol Myers Squibb. Her experience in navigating complex legal and regulatory challenges will be invaluable as Orca Bio advances its pipeline.

The company has further bolstered its commercial organization by adding several senior leaders with extensive cell therapy experience to its market access, commercial operations, and medical affairs divisions. While specific names were not disclosed, these additions signal Orca Bio's commitment to building a robust infrastructure to support its commercialization efforts.

Preparing for Orca-T Commercialization

These strategic hires come on the heels of Orca Bio's recent phase 3 data report on its allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy for leukemia patients. The positive results have set the stage for discussions with the FDA regarding market approval. In anticipation of potential commercialization, Orca Bio has been actively expanding its team across various critical functions, including manufacturing, regulatory, medical, and commercial operations.

As the cell therapy landscape continues to evolve, Orca Bio's latest moves position the company to potentially make a significant impact in the market. With experienced leadership at the helm and a strengthened organizational structure, Orca Bio appears poised to navigate the complexities of bringing a novel cell therapy to patients in need.