Adcentrx Therapeutics Strengthens Its Leadership With a New Scientific Advisory Board
Adcentrx Therapeutics has formed a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and named two distinguished leaders—Mike Varney, Ph.D., and Kerry Blanchard, M.D., Ph.D.—as its founding members. The move underscores the company’s ongoing commitment to advance innovative research and develop therapeutics focused on cancer treatment.
Why the Advisory Board Matters
The SAB will guide Adcentrx’s executive team with seasoned, hands-on advice. Its mandate is to bring expert insight to the company’s strategy and research programs so Adcentrx can stay focused on creating therapies that address serious and life?threatening diseases. In short, the board is there to help the science move faster and more surely from idea to impact.
Dr. Mike Varney: A Track Record in Discovery
Dr. Varney brings a formidable background in drug discovery and development. He previously served as Executive Vice President and Head of Genentech Research and Early Development, where he led high-impact research programs. Over his career, he contributed to the discovery and development of multiple cancer therapies, including Erivedge and Cotellic—medicines that moved from concept into the clinic and onto the market.
Earlier, at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Varney pioneered protein?structure?based drug design, work that proved vital to creating the HIV protease inhibitor Viracept. He earned his Ph.D. in Organic Synthesis from the California Institute of Technology and completed an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Columbia University. The depth of his scientific and leadership experience makes him a valued voice on the SAB.
Dr. Kerry Blanchard: Deep Leadership Across Modalities
Dr. Blanchard adds more than four decades of experience to the team. As co?founder and CEO of Perpetual Medicines, he has helped advance peptide therapeutics supported by computational AI platforms. His leadership spans roles at Everest Medicines and Innovent Biologics, along with significant contributions at Eli Lilly and Company—experience that blends discovery, development, and organizational scale.
He has overseen the development of multiple marketed drugs, including Verzenio, and has led fundraising efforts exceeding $2 billion to build and advance research pipelines. Dr. Blanchard holds an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Indiana University and completed rigorous residency training at notable institutions, including Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His breadth of experience—from science to strategy to execution—rounds out the board’s perspective.
About Adcentrx Therapeutics
Adcentrx Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on accelerating the development of protein conjugate therapies for cancer and other critical diseases. Its i?Conjugation™ technology platform addresses core challenges often seen in Antibody?Drug Conjugates (ADCs), aiming to improve how these therapies are designed and built. In addition to ADRX?0706, Adcentrx is advancing a broader pipeline of ADCs intended to reshape treatment approaches in oncology.
Commitment to Innovation
By establishing its Scientific Advisory Board, Adcentrx is sharpening its ability to innovate and drive clinical progress. The combined expertise of Dr. Varney and Dr. Blanchard is expected to inform research direction, strengthen decision?making, and support the company’s positioning within the biopharmaceutical sector. The goal remains steady: better therapies, built with intention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the new Scientific Advisory Board?
The SAB is designed to guide Adcentrx’s leadership with strategic and scientific counsel. Its role is to provide expert insights that help advance the company’s drug development efforts—especially its cancer?focused work in protein conjugate therapeutics—so promising ideas can be translated into therapies more effectively.
Who are the founding members of the SAB?
The founding members are Dr. Mike Varney and Dr. Kerry Blanchard. Dr. Varney is a seasoned drug discovery leader known for contributions to medicines such as Erivedge and Cotellic, while Dr. Blanchard is an experienced executive and clinician who has overseen the development of marketed drugs including Verzenio.
What specialized experience does Dr. Mike Varney bring?
Dr. Varney has deep experience in discovery and early development, including leadership as Executive Vice President and Head of Genentech Research and Early Development. He helped bring several cancer therapies to patients and pioneered protein?structure?based drug design at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, work that contributed to the HIV protease inhibitor Viracept.
What is the background of Dr. Kerry Blanchard?
Dr. Blanchard is the co?founder and CEO of Perpetual Medicines and has held leadership roles at Everest Medicines and Innovent Biologics, with earlier contributions at Eli Lilly and Company. He has overseen multiple marketed drugs, including Verzenio, led fundraising efforts exceeding $2 billion, and holds an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Indiana University, with residency training that includes Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
What is the focus of Adcentrx Therapeutics?
Adcentrx focuses on developing protein conjugate therapeutics for cancer and other serious diseases. Its i?Conjugation™ platform tackles key challenges in Antibody?Drug Conjugates (ADCs). Alongside ADRX?0706, the company is building a pipeline of ADCs to advance treatment options in oncology.
