Strategic Leadership for a New Era in Cancer Treatment
VERAXA Biotech AG, an innovative Swiss company at the forefront of designing novel cancer therapies, today announced a significant enhancement to its leadership team with the appointment of Dr. Rick Austin as its new Chief Scientific Officer. The appointment, effective May 1st, 2025, comes as VERAXA prepares for a pivotal phase of growth, including advancing its key pipeline projects and novel BiTAC™ antibody formats towards clinical studies. VERAXA is also a proposed de-SPAC acquisition target of Voyager Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: VACH), a move poised to transition it into a publicly traded entity.
A Transformative Period for VERAXA
Dr. Christoph Antz, CEO and co-founder of VERAXA, expressed his enthusiasm for Dr. Austin’s arrival. “Dr. Austin’s appointment comes at a transformative period for VERAXA, and I’m looking forward to working with him as we enter the next phase in VERAXA’s journey,” he commented. Dr. Antz emphasized the strategic value of Dr. Austin’s background, stating, “Rick’s extensive expertise in oncology drug development, combined with his deep ties to the U.S. biopharma ecosystem, will be instrumental in progressing our lead programs into the clinic, in tapping into the rich U.S.-based talent pool, and expanding our scientific footprint.” This move signals VERAXA’s intent to solidify its research capabilities and broaden its operational reach, particularly within the influential American biotechnology landscape.
A Wealth of Experience in Oncology Innovation
Dr. Austin brings to VERAXA an impressive career spanning more than 25 years, marked by significant leadership roles in oncology discovery and early development. His previous position was vice president of research at Harpoon Therapeutics, a company specializing in T-cell engagers, which was notably acquired by Merck in 2024. Prior to his tenure at Harpoon, Dr. Austin held multiple key positions at Amgen and Tularik (which Amgen acquired in 2004). During this period, he was instrumental in leading tumor immunology projects that utilized advanced BiTE® (Bispecific T-cell Engager) technology to target challenging cancers such as multiple myeloma and ovarian cancers. His foundational research experience includes a postdoctoral fellowship at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Austin has played a crucial role in enabling numerous Investigational New Drug (IND) filings and pioneering first-in-human studies, demonstrating a consistent ability to translate scientific discovery into clinical progress. His contributions to the field are further evidenced by his status as an inventor on 12 issued patents and his authorship of more than 25 peer-reviewed research publications. Dr. Austin earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University, providing him with a strong academic underpinning for his subsequent achievements in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Advancing a Promising Therapeutic Platform
Expressing his commitment to his new role, Dr. Austin stated, “I look forward to joining VERAXA to help deliver a pipeline of efficacious cancer treatments with enhanced safety profiles.” He highlighted the potential of VERAXA’s proprietary technology, adding, “VERAXA’s innovative BiTAC platform represents a powerful approach to expanding the therapeutic window of both antibody drug conjugates and T-cell engagers to minimize off-tumor toxicity while enhancing anti-tumor activity.” This focus on targeted therapies with improved safety is a critical aspect of modern oncology research.
VERAXA Biotech is dedicated to building a premier engine for discovering and developing next-generation antibody-based therapeutics. Its pipeline includes bispecific antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific T-cell engagers, and other innovative formats. The company’s work is powered by a suite of transformative technologies and guided by rigorous quality-by-design principles, with scientific roots tracing back to breakthroughs at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory.
The strategic appointment of Dr. Austin occurs as VERAXA navigates a significant corporate milestone. On April 22, 2025, VERAXA entered into a definitive business combination agreement with Voyager Acquisition Corp. Upon the closing of this agreement, VERAXA is expected to become a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange, providing it with greater access to capital and increased visibility to fuel its ambitious research and development programs. Voyager Acquisition Corp. is a special purpose acquisition company focused on revolutionizing the healthcare sector.
