Nordic Nanovector Appoints Dr Dominic Smethurst as Interim Chief Medical Officer

Nordic Nanovector ASA (OSE: NANO) announces that Dr Dominic Smethurst has been appointed Interim Chief Medical Officer with immediate effect. Dr Smethurst replaces Dr Lisa Rojkjaer, MD, who after a handover period will leave Nordic Nanovector to pursue other career opportunities.

Dr Smethurst is an experienced drug development physician having led complex global clinical trials within oncology. Previously, Dr Smethurst was the Group Medical Director of Tusk Therapeutics, where he played a key role in the development of this private immuno-oncology company focused on therapeutic antibodies. Tusk Therapeutics was acquired by Roche for potentially €655 million in September 2018.

Prior to Tusk, Dr Smethurst has held senior roles at Icon, a global Contract Research Organisation (CRO), where he was VP Oncology Global Therapeutic Area Lead and at Adaptimmune/Immunocore, where he was CMO. Dr Smethurst has also worked for Amgen and AstraZeneca in medical roles of increasing seniority.

Dr Smethurst gained his medical qualifications, at the Addenbrooke’s Clinical School (Cambridge, UK). He is member of both the Royal College of Physicians (UK) and the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine (UK). 

Dr Lars Nieba, Interim CEO of Nordic Nanovector, commented: “I am pleased that we have been able to appoint Dominic as our new Interim CMO. He is a very experienced and commercially focused medical physician with significant clinical development skills, and I am sure his input will be of great value as we work together to complete the PARADIGME study and to prepare for the planned filing for Betalutin® in the US. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Lisa for her contribution in advancing the clinical development of Betalutin®.”

Dr Dominic Smethurst, Interim CMO of Nordic Nanovector, said: “I am looking forward to joining at this critical time for Nordic Nanovector as it seeks to complete the pivotal trial PARADIGME with Betalutin® in a timely manner. I believe it is important that we can bring Betalutin® to patients with advanced follicular lymphoma given the very promising efficacy data that has been generated alongside a favourable safety profile and convenient once-only dosing regimen.”