MPM Capital announces the appointment of former President of Onyx Pharmaceuticals Pablo J. Cagnoni, M.D. as Managing Director (MD)
May 21, 2015 – MPM Capital announces the appointment of former President of Onyx Pharmaceuticals Pablo J. Cagnoni, M.D. as Managing Director (MD). In addition to serving as an MPM MD, Dr. Cagnoni is a co-founder of Tizona Therapeutics, Inc., an MPM-founded cancer immunotherapy company, and has taken on the role of President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Pablo brings tremendous operating and clinical development expertise to MPM Capital and its portfolio of investee companies developing breakthrough products”
Over of the course of his career as an oncologist and pharmaceutical executive, Dr. Cagnoni has been committed to advancing the development of breakthrough treatments for patients with cancer and other debilitating diseases. He has played a key role in the development, approval and/or commercialization of several life-changing medicines, including Afinitor®, Blinctyo®, Exjade®, Folotyn®, Glivec®, Jakavi®, Kyprolis®, Signifor®, Tarceva® and Tasigna®, among them.
“Pablo brings tremendous operating and clinical development expertise to MPM Capital and its portfolio of investee companies developing breakthrough products,” said Luke Evnin, MPM Capital Managing Director and co-founder. “We feel honored and gratified that Pablo chose MPM and our portfolio company Tizona as the best platform for him to continue his significant contributions to the development of innovative oncology medicines.”
“MPM’s world-class team has already demonstrated great success in the area of immuno-oncology with investments such as CoStim. I am confident that Tizona, with its distinguished scientific advisory board and scientifically-renowned co-founders, is poised to develop equally innovative breakthrough therapies,” said Dr. Cagnoni.
As President of Onyx Pharmaceuticals Dr. Cagnoni had global strategic oversight and accountability of the business from early product development to commercialization. At the time of his departure, Onyx was on track to deliver yearly revenues in excess of $1B and had over 800 employees. Dr. Cagnoni joined Onyx in March 2013 as Executive Vice President, Global Research and Development and Technical Operations, and was named President in October 2013, when Onyx became an Amgen subsidiary. Previously, he was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Clinical Development at Novartis Oncology, where he was responsible for all clinical development, clinical operations, clinical pharmacology and correlative sciences activities for the oncology development pipeline. From 2007 to 2009, Dr. Cagnoni was Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Allos Therapeutics, and prior to that Chief Medical Officer of OSI Pharmaceuticals. Earlier in his career, he served as Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado Bone Marrow Transplant Program where he cared for patients undergoing stem cell transplant.
Dr. Cagnoni earned his medical degree from University of Buenos Aires School of Medicine, and he completed his fellowship in Hematology and Oncology in Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York and a fellowship in Stem Cell Transplantation at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
About MPM Capital — MPM Capital (http://www.mpmcapital.com) is a global leader in early-stage life sciences venture investing with a track record of success in building world-class companies around transformational treatments and cures. With its deep experience, dedicated team of operating executives and distinguished MSAB, MPM Capital is powering medical breakthroughs that change lives.