PIR International Supports Appointment of Non-Executive Chair at Anaveon

Anaveon is a Switzerland based global clinical stage biopharmaceutical company specialising in the development of treatments for diseases with immune system dysfunction. The company is focused on developing biologics to modulate the function of cytokines with the potential to provide substantial therapeutic benefit to cancer patients. Its vision is to develop novel immune therapies benefiting patients suffering from a wide variety of diseases with immune pathology.

In 2024, Anaveon sought to succeed its long-term Non-Executive Chair with an independent US based board profile representing deep biopharmaceutical executive experience from within the oncology domain. The incoming Chair’s remit would be to partner with Anaveon’s CEO on the company’s growth trajectory towards becoming a fully integrated oncology focused biopharma. Anaveon’s Board partnered with leading life science executive firm, PIR International, to undertake this important mandate. Deploying its deep research methodology and rich network, PIR International undertook an extensive search exercise, led by Sally Hope, Stuart Penney and Paul Hoey, culminating in a comprehensive shortlist of qualified industry leading candidates. After due process, the Anaveon BoD appointed Dieter Weinand, former Chair and CEO of Bayer Pharmaceuticals, as Anaveon’s new Non-Executive Chair of its Board in late July 2024.

The PIR International Partners comment:

We are delighted to have collaborated with Andreas and the Anaveon BoD on this US focused Chair search. The high calibre of candidates attracted was notable, resulting in a comprehensive shortlist of prospective Chair candidates and ultimately the appointment of Dieter Weinand. We are pleased that European biotechnology organisations continue to attract outstanding board leadership expertise from the US, reinforcing the high quality of science and leadership emanating from Europe.

Andreas Katopodis, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Anaveon, comments:

“We are delighted to welcome Dieter to Anaveon’s Board. He brings a wealth of strategic and operational experience to Anaveon as we look to advance our lead solid tumor programs through clinical studies and expand our pipeline with novel drug candidates. We had very effective and constructive interactions with PIR International and we are very pleased with the quality and speed of the process.”