CatalYm Announces Leadership Change

Munich, Germany, October 11, 2024 – CatalYm today announces the appointment of Anne Burger, Chief Financial Officer of CatalYm, as Interim CEO. Anne succeeds Phil L’Huillier, who is stepping down from the company. The company has an active search for his successor underway.

“We are confident in CatalYm’s strong foundation and bright future as we continue our progress toward becoming a leader in immuno-oncology,” said Rogier Rooswinkel, CatalYm Board Member. “With our USD 150M Series D raise just behind us, an experienced management team and encouraging data in last-line cancer patients, CatalYm is fully equipped to drive forward and we remain steadfast in our mission to advance innovative therapies that improve patient outcomes. On behalf of the board, I want to thank Phil for his contribution to CatalYm’s successful transition into an advanced-stage oncology company.

Anne Burger, Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO stated: “CatalYm is in a strong position backed by a high-profile syndicate of international investors and significant momentum for visugromab, our key cancer therapy resistance mechanism targeting approach. On behalf of the entire CatalYm team and management, I want to express our deep gratitude for Phil’s unwavering belief in visugromab and his dedication, energy, and tireless advocacy, which have been instrumental in bringing us to where we are today. We are ready to execute on the next stage of our clinical strategy to achieve our vision of breaking immunosuppressive barriers to improve therapeutic outcomes.“

CatalYm is a leader in the development of a new class of cancer treatments aiming to prevent or reverse cancer resistance to checkpoint inhibition, chemotherapy and other targeted treatments. The approach neutralizes GDF-15, a critical immunosuppressant used by tumor cells to survive. With its broad Phase 2b development plan, the company targets high-need solid tumor indications including non-small cell lung cancer, urothelial cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma where existing and acquired resistance are a major problem. CatalYm is now in preparations to launch further randomized, controlled studies in several major cancer indications in combination with checkpoint inhibitors and standard-of-care in first- and second-line treatment in the first half of 2025.

ENDS

About CatalYm
CatalYm has identified GDF-15 as a key cancer therapy resistance mechanism and is developing it as safe and efficacious immune therapy for solid tumors. GDF-15, an immunosuppressant important for feto-maternal tolerance, is hijacked by cancer cells to evade immune system attack. Visugromab, CatalYm’s lead antibody, has demonstrated durable anti-tumor efficacy with long-lasting objective responses in relapsed and refractory metastatic solid tumor patients in combination with anti-PD-1 treatment. CatalYm is now advancing to Phase 2b studies to confirm visugromab as a new class of cancer immunotherapy in a broad range of anti-cancer regimens.