Basel, Switzerland, July 2, 2026 – Anaveon, a late-stage biotechnology company pioneering precision biologics to reprogram the immune system for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today announced the appointment of Laetitia Pouzol, PharmD, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer. This internal promotion recognizes Laetitia’s outstanding contributions since joining the company in March 2025 as Head of Immunology, where she has been instrumental in advancing the company’s immunology programs.

During a period of organizational transition and transformation, Eric Zanelli, Ph.D., stepped in as interim Chief Scientific Officer, providing continuity and strong scientific support to the team. Anaveon extends its sincere thanks to Eric for his invaluable leadership and dedication during this critical time.

“We are excited to promote Laetitia to the role of permanent Chief Scientific Officer,” said Thaminda Ramanayake, Chief Executive Officer of Anaveon. “Laetitia has been spearheading our immunology scientific thought process internally at Anaveon with exceptional vision and execution. Her leadership in managing the team on the ground with empathy, compassion, and a genuine love for science has resonated deeply with everyone in the organization. Her deep expertise in translational research and proven ability to advance assets from discovery to IND-enabling stages make her the ideal leader to guide our scientific strategy as we move our lead program ANV200 and pipeline forward into the clinic.”

Laetitia Pouzol commented: “I am deeply honored to be appointed Chief Scientific Officer of Anaveon at such an important moment for the company. Since joining as Head of Immunology, I have had the privilege of leading the translational research strategy for our immunology programs, including advancing ANV200, our PD-1 depleting antibody, from early discovery into IND-enabling studies. Anaveon’s innovative precision biologics approach to selectively modulating the immune system has the potential to transform treatment for patients with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. I am excited to continue working with our talented team to drive rigorous science, foster collaborations, accelerate our programs toward clinical success, and, most importantly, deliver meaningful impact for patients.”

 

About Laetitia Pouzol, PharmD, Ph.D.:

Laetitia Pouzol brings more than 16 years of experience across drug discovery, preclinical development, and clinical development support, with deep expertise in immunology, autoimmunity, neuroinflammation, and translational research.

Before her appointment as CSO, Laetitia joined Anaveon in March 2025 as Head of Immunology, where she led preclinical and translational research strategy for the company’s immunology programs, including advancing ANV200, a PD-1 depleting antibody, from early discovery into IND-enabling studies. Prior to Anaveon, she held increasingly senior roles at Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals, and Hoffmann-La Roche, where she advanced preclinical candidates toward IND, guided mechanism-based indication selection, led pharmacology and immunology teams, and supported early clinical programs through biomarker strategy.

Laetitia earned her Ph.D. in Immunology from University Paris-Saclay and holds a PharmD and an MS in Safety Pharmacology from the University of Lorraine.

 

ENDS

 

Media contact:
Benz Advisory
Beatrix Benz
Email: beatrix.benz@anaveon.com
Tel: +41 79 256 77 73

 

About Anaveon:
Anaveon AG is a late-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland focused on developing next-generation precision biologics that target central regulatory nodes of the immune system. The company’s engineered antibodies and cytokine-based therapies aim to selectively eliminate or reprogram pathogenic immune cells, restoring durable immune balance in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Anaveon’s lead immunology program, ANV200, is a next-generation precision-engineered PD-1 depleting antibody currently advancing through IND-enabling studies, with clinical testing planned in the near future. Anaveon is backed by Syncona, Forbion, Blue Owl, Novartis Venture Fund, Pfizer Ventures and Pontifax.

Find out more at  > anaveon.com

Basel, Switzerland, May 28, 2026 – Anaveon, a late-stage preclinical biotechnology company focused on reprogramming the immune system for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today announced that new clinical data from its legacy oncology asset ANV600 (sunekafusp alpha) will be presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.
Following its strategic pivot to immunology, Anaveon is actively seeking global development and commercialization partners for its oncology portfolio to maximize the potential of these highly differentiated assets.

 

ANV600 is a first-in-class, non-blocking PD-1-targeted IL-2R-βγ agonist designed to selectively expand tumor-reactive PD-1+ CD8+ effector T cells while reducing the toxicities historically associated with IL-2 therapy. It is compatible with existing Check Point Inhibitors (CPI) and is positioned for use in CPI-resistant and CPI-relapsed patients.

 

Key results from the EXPAND-1 Phase 1 study will be highlighted in the poster:

 

• The encouraging preliminary antitumor activity observed with ANV600 should be investigated further through additional clinical studies with larger patient populations,
• ANV600 is well tolerated as a monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab,
• A complete response (CR) was observed in a patient with NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer) previously progressing on CPI and treated with ANV600 monotherapy at 120 µg/kg Q2W. Partial responses (PRs) were reported for two patients treated respectively with 30 µg/kg and 60 µg/kg ANV600 Q2W in combination with pembrolizumab Q3W,
• Patients experienced target lesion shrinkage in 29% of patients receiving ANV600 monotherapy and 24% of patients receiving ANV600 plus pembrolizumab,
• Disease control defined as Complete Response, Partial Response, or Stable Disease observed in 42% of patients treated with ANV600 monotherapy and 59% of the patients receiving ANV600 and Pembrolizumab,
• Recommended Phase 2 dose of 90 µg/kg weekly for 4 weeks followed by 150 µg/kg Q2W established,
• Patients Treatment with ANV600 resulted in higher absolute counts of CD8+ T cells and NK cells over regulatory T cells.

 

“Patients with advanced solid tumors treated with ANV600 derived meaningful clinical benefit, with approximately 24% of patients achieving a Complete Response, Partial Response or durable Stable Disease maintained for at least 18 weeks (≥3 tumor assessments),” said Prof. Dr. med. Markus Jörger of Health Ostschweiz (HOCH) in St. Gallen (Switzerland). “The trial provided a valuable treatment option for patients whose disease had progressed beyond available therapies. ANV600 demonstrated a promising safety-efficacy profile, together with compelling proof-of-mechanism in patients with advanced solid tumors.”

 

ASCO Annual Meeting abstracts may be accessed online via https://www.asco.org/abstracts. The poster can be accessed here.

 

Presentation Details:

Title: Safety, PK/PD, and efficacy results from Expand-1: A phase 1 dose escalation study of the novel PD-1 targeted IL-2R-βγ agonist sunekafusp alpha (ANV600) as a single agent and in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors.
First Author: Markus Joerger
Abstract number: 2587
Session Title: Development Therapeutics- Immunotherapy
Poster board: 377
Location, Date and Time: Hall A, May 30, 2026, 1:30 to 4:30 pm, CDT

 

“With established clinical benefits and strong interest from current clinical investigators, we believe that ANV600 is ideally suited for a partner with the resources and expertise to bring it forward in CPI-resistant NSCLC and other immuno-oncology indications,” added Thaminda Ramanayake, Chief Executive Officer of Anaveon.

 

Anaveon’s proprietary oncology product portfolio is built around a non-blocking PD-1 targeted cytokine platform. This highly selective “cis-signaling” proximity-activated delivery of cytokines is precise and combinable with Check Point Inhibitors. In addition to ANV600, the platform includes ANV700, a preclinical proximity-activated PD-1-targeted IL-21 fusion protein with potential for synergistic effects when combined with IL-2-based approaches and another undisclosed preclinical program. Included in the oncology portfolio is ANV419, an earlier generation (non-PD-1-targeted) IL-2/anti-IL-2 fusion protein with demonstrated safety in prior clinical studies.
The company is now prioritizing its core immunology pipeline and is open to various partnering structures (license, co-development, or acquisition) for the oncology platform and portfolio.

For partnering inquiries, please, contact: collaborations@anaveon.com.

ENDS

 

Media contact:
Benz Advisory
Beatrix Benz
Email: beatrix.benz@anaveon.com
Tel: +41 79 256 77 73

 

About Anaveon:
Anaveon AG is a late-stage preclinical biotechnology company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. The company is dedicated to transforming lives by precisely modulating the immune system to address high unmet needs in autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders. Our therapeutics target central regulatory nodes of the immune system to selectively eliminate or reprogram pathogenic immune cells and restore durable immune balance. Anaveon is backed by Syncona, Forbion, Blue Owl, Novartis Venture Fund, Pfizer Ventures and Pontifax.

 

About ANV600:
ANV600 is a novel PD-1–targeted IL-2R-βγ agonist that binds PD-1 on a unique non-blocking epitope, distinct from that targeted by pembrolizumab and other PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors. It is designed to preferentially stimulate PD-1⁺ CD8⁺ T cells with a pre-exhausted, cytotoxic phenotype, aiming to activate tumor antigen-experienced T cells within the tumor microenvironment. This targeted, non-blocking PD-1 approach may reduce IL-2–related toxicities, enhance tumor selectivity, and potentiate responses in checkpoint-refractory tumors without compromising combination therapies.

 

Find out more at >anaveon.com

Basel, Switzerland, May 19, 2026 – Anaveon, a late-stage biotechnology company pioneering precision biologics to reprogram the immune system for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today announced the appointments of Eric Zanelli, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer and Jill Jene, Ph.D., MBA, as Chief Business Officer. These strategic C-suite additions bring deep scientific, translational, and business development expertise to accelerate Anaveon’s clinical advancement and pipeline expansion.

“We are delighted to welcome Eric and Jill to Anaveon’s executive team,” said Thaminda Ramanayake, Chief Executive Officer. “Eric’s proven track record in immunology, translational medicine, and regulatory strategy for autoimmune and rare disease programs, combined with Jill’s exceptional success in corporate strategy, deal-making, and value creation across immunology and neurology, perfectly complements our team. Together, they will drive our transition into clinical development, strengthen our immunology-focused pipeline, and position Anaveon for long-term growth and impact on patients’ lives.”

Jill Jene added: “I am thrilled to join Anaveon at this pivotal moment as we advance our lead immunology programs into the clinic. I look forward to partnering with Thaminda and the entire team to build strategic relationships, secure the resources needed for success, and deliver transformative, first-in-class immuno-therapies to patients living with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.”

Eric Zanelli commented: “I am excited to lead Anaveon’s talented scientific team and bring our lead asset ANV200, along with our broader pipeline of novel precision biologics, to patients who urgently need better and more targeted therapies. Our approach to reprogramming the immune system holds tremendous potential to address significant unmet needs in autoimmune diseases.”

 

About Eric Zanelli, Ph.D:

Eric Zanelli, Ph.D., brings over 25 years of executive and scientific leadership in biotechnology, specializing in immunology, autoimmune diseases, neuroimmunology, rare diseases, biomarkers, and translational medicine. He has played a key role in raising more than $200 million in venture capital.

As Founder and Head of Research at Allievex Corp. (2018–2024), he led preclinical and translational development for enzyme replacement therapies in Sanfilippo B syndrome. He developed biomarker strategies that secured FDA agreement on surrogate endpoints supporting accelerated approval. Previously, as founder of Déclion Holdings LLC, he invented the DEEP™ peptide vaccine platform and advanced a phospho-tau vaccine program partly financed by Biogen. At Peptimmune, Inc., he directed research teams that advanced peptide immune modulators into Phase Ib clinical trials in multiple sclerosis and out-licensed an orphan disease program to Orphan Europe.

Dr. Zanelli previously held senior scientific roles at Praecis Pharmaceuticals and Cardion Pharmaceuticals. He led a research group at Leiden University Medical Center focused on HLA genetics in autoimmune diseases and conducted postdoctoral research at the Mayo Clinic. He earned his Ph.D. in Immunology from Aix-Marseille University and is an inventor on multiple patents with more than 50 scientific publications.

 

About Jill Jene, Ph.D., MBA:

Jill Jene, Ph.D., MBA, brings more than 25 years of leadership in biopharmaceutical corporate strategy and business development. She has successfully led and closed over 50 transactions totaling more than $6 billion across immunology, neurology, oncology, pain, and women’s health.

Since founding Jene Advisors in 2021, she has served as fractional Chief Business Officer for several companies, driving strategy, partnerships, fundraising, and corporate transactions. She currently serves as a Board Director and Audit Committee member of Lipocine Inc. (NASDAQ: LPCN). Previously, she was VP and Head of Corporate Development at Adamas Pharmaceuticals, where she contributed to the company’s strategic plan and eventual sale to Supernus Pharmaceuticals. At PDL Biopharma and Depomed (now Assertio), she executed multiple high-value deals, including the $1.05 billion acquisition of Nucynta® from Janssen.

Jill began her career in business development at Baxter International, 3M Pharmaceuticals, and Cell Genesys. She holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Northwestern University, an MBA with Honors from DePaul University, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Bradley University (Cum Laude).

 

ENDS
Media contact:
Benz Advisory
Beatrix Benz
Email: beatrix.benz@anaveon.com
Tel: +41 79 256 77 73

 

About Anaveon:
Anaveon AG is a late-stage preclinical biotechnology company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland focused on developing next-generation precision biologics that target central regulatory nodes of the immune system. The company’s engineered antibodies and cytokine-based therapies aim to selectively eliminate or reprogram pathogenic immune cells, restoring durable immune balance in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

For more information, visit  > anaveon.com

Basel, Switzerland, May 13, 2026 – Anaveon, a late-stage biotechnology company pioneering precision biologics to reprogram the immune system for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today announced the appointment of Thomas P. Mathers as Chair of its Board of Directors. His appointment will be confirmed in the upcoming Annual General Meeting in June. Dieter Weinand, who served as Chair since 2024, has stepped down from the Board.

Mr. Mathers brings over 32 years of distinguished executive leadership in the life sciences sector, with a proven track record in company building, capital raising, public market transitions, and strategic value creation. As a Partner at Pappas Capital and Executive Chairman of Aer Therapeutics, he is widely recognized for his expertise in advancing innovative therapies from discovery through commercialization.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tom as Chair of Anaveon’s Board at this pivotal moment,” said Thaminda Ramanayake, Chief Executive Officer of Anaveon. “His exceptional experience in scaling biotechnology companies, securing substantial financing, and navigating complex regulatory and commercial landscapes will be invaluable as we advance our lead immunology programs into clinical development and expand our pipeline of novel drug candidates. We are deeply grateful to Dieter Weinand for his dedicated service and strategic guidance during a critical foundational period and wish him continued success.”

“I am honored to join Anaveon as Chair of the Board,” said Thomas P. Mathers. “The company’s innovative approach to selectively modulating immune pathways has tremendous potential to deliver transformative therapies for patients with significant unmet needs in autoimmune diseases. I look forward to partnering with Thaminda, the executive team, and the Board to accelerate growth, strengthen strategic execution, and realize Anaveon’s vision of reshaping immune-mediated disease treatment.”

Leadership in Action: Thomas P. Mathers’ Track Record

Mr. Mathers currently serves as Executive Chairman (and Interim CEO) of Aer Therapeutics, developing novel therapies for serious airway diseases, and as Vice Chairman of Certa Therapeutics, focused on fibrosis treatments. He is also Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), where he actively shapes advocacy, regulatory policy, capital formation, bioethics, and intellectual property initiatives. He additionally serves on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses.

In 2019, he founded Allievex Corp., a clinical-stage company developing therapies for neuronopathic lysosomal storage diseases such as Sanfilippo Syndrome. He led the company as President, CEO, and Director until its acquisition by Spruce Biosciences in 2024. Previously, as President and CEO of CoLucid Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CLCD), he advanced lasmiditan for acute migraine treatment through key development milestones, culminating in its acquisition by Eli Lilly in 2017 for nearly $1 billion.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Mathers held senior leadership roles at Peptimmune, Cell Based Delivery, Cardion AG, and Genzyme Corporation. He holds a B.S. in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point (1988), where he played varsity football. He served as a Captain and AH-64 Apache helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army during the Gulf War, earning multiple military honors.

 

ENDS

Media contact:
Benz Advisory
Beatrix Benz
Email: beatrix.benz@anaveon.com
Tel: +41 79 256 77 73

About Anaveon:
Anaveon AG is a late-stage preclinical biotechnology company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland focused on developing next-generation precision biologics that target central regulatory nodes of the immune system. The company’s engineered antibodies and cytokine-based therapies aim to selectively eliminate or reprogram pathogenic immune cells, restoring durable immune balance in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Basel, Switzerland, March 23, 2026 – Anaveon, a late-stage preclinical biotech focused on reprogramming the immune system with precision biologics, announces today the appointment of Thaminda Ramanayake as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Ramanayake brings over 20 years of global biopharmaceutical leadership experience, with a strong track record in business development, strategic transactions, and advancing innovative therapeutics. Most recently, as Chief Business Officer at CureVac, he played a key role in the company’s transformation and its acquisition by BioNTech in 2025. He previously held senior business development and strategy roles at Sanofi, Affini-T Therapeutics, BioMarin, and Amgen, leading partnerships, licensing, and M&A initiatives. He holds an M.S. in Immunology and an MBA from the University of Rochester, New York.

Dieter Weinand, Chair of the Anaveon Board of Directors, said, “Thaminda is a proven leader with deep strategic and transaction expertise. His ability to build and position companies for value creation makes him ideally suited to lead Anaveon as we advance our immunology pipeline toward the clinic. As we sharpen our focus on immunology, we are confident that Thaminda’s leadership will accelerate our ambition to become a premier immunology company based in Switzerland.”

“It is an honor and an exciting challenge to serve as the next Chief Executive Officer of Anaveon,” said Mr. Ramanayake. “Anaveon is developing new ways to precisely control T cells to address significant unmet needs in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. With promising data across our growing pipeline, including our lead asset ANV200, as a best-in-class candidate for robust depletion of pathogenic T cells, we have tremendous opportunities to make a meaningful difference for patients. I look forward to partnering with the team to drive this next phase of growth and innovation.”

Christoph Huber, Chief Science Officer, added, “Building on our strong scientific expertise, we are well positioned to translate these advances into differentiated therapies and drive the company’s next phase of growth. We look forward to working with Thaminda to deliver impactful therapies for patients.”

Andreas Katopodis, who has led Anaveon since its launch, commented, “I am proud of the foundation we have built and confident that Thaminda’s leadership will guide Anaveon through its next stage of growth and development.”

Dieter Weinand continued, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank and recognize Andreas for his contribution in leading Anaveon from concept to a promising portfolio of programs, each with the potential to fulfill Anaveon’s mission of delivering meaningful new medicines for patients.”

ENDS

Media contact:
Benz Advisory
Beatrix Benz
Email: beatrix.benz@anaveon.com
Tel: +41 79 256 77 73

About Anaveon:

Anaveon AG is a late-stage preclinical biotechnology company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. The company is dedicated to transforming lives by precisely modulating the immune system to address high unmet needs in autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders. Our therapeutics target central regulatory nodes of the immune system to selectively eliminate or reprogram pathogenic immune cells and restore durable immune balance. Anaveon is backed by Syncona, Forbion, Blue Owl, Novartis Venture Fund, Pfizer Ventures and Pontifax.

Basel, Switzerland, May 11, 2026 – Anaveon, a late-stage preclinical biotechnology company focused on reprogramming the immune system for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today announced that new clinical data from its legacy oncology asset ANV600 (sunekafusp alpha) will be presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.
Following its strategic pivot to immunology, Anaveon is actively seeking global development and commercialization partners for its oncology portfolio to maximize the potential of these highly differentiated assets.

ANV600 is a first-in-class, non-blocking PD-1-targeted IL-2R-βγ agonist designed to selectively expand tumor-reactive PD-1⁺ CD8⁺ effector T cells while reducing the toxicities historically associated with IL-2 therapy. It is compatible with existing checkpoint inhibitors and is positioned for use in CPI-resistant and CPI-relapsed settings.

Key results from the EXPAND-1 Phase 1 study will be highlighted in the poster:

• Manageable safety profile as monotherapy and in combination with pembrolizumab
• Clear proof-of-mechanism: preferential proliferation of PD-1⁺ CD8⁺ T cells over regulatory T cells
• Encouraging early clinical activity, including tumor shrinkage in a meaningful proportion of patients (including post-CPI and CPI-naïve), disease control, and durable benefit
• Recommended Phase 2 dose established

ASCO Annual Meeting abstracts may be accessed online via  https://www.asco.org/abstracts.
Details of the poster presentations are as follows:

Presentation Details:
Title: EXPAND-1: A phase 1 dose escalation study of the novel PD-1 targeted IL-2R-βγ agonist Sunekafusp alpha (ANV600) as a single agent and in combination with Pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors
First Author: Markus Joerger
Abstract number: 2587
Session Title: Development Therapeutics- Immunotherapy
Poster board: 377
Location, Date and Time: Hall A, May 30, 2026, 1:30 to 3:00 pm CST

“ANV600 has delivered compelling clinical proof-of-mechanism and a promising safety-efficacy profile in patients with advanced solid tumors,” said Thaminda Ramanayake, Chief Executive Officer of Anaveon. “With strong interest from physicians at clinical sites for Phase 2 development, we believe this asset is ideally suited for a partner with the resources and expertise to bring it forward in CPI-resistant NSCLC and other immuno-oncology indications.”
Anaveon’s oncology portfolio also includes ANV700, a preclinical proximity-activated PD-1-targeted IL-21 fusion protein with potential for synergistic effects when combined with IL-2-based approaches.
The company is now prioritizing its core immunology pipeline and is open to various partnering structures (license, co-development, or acquisition) for the oncology assets.

For partnering inquiries, please, contact: collaborations@anaveon.com.

ENDS

Media contact:
Benz Advisory
Beatrix Benz
Email: beatrix.benz@anaveon.com
Tel: +41 79 256 77 73

About Anaveon:
Anaveon AG is a late-stage preclinical biotechnology company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. The company is dedicated to transforming lives by precisely modulating the immune system to address high unmet needs in autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders. Our therapeutics target central regulatory nodes of the immune system to selectively eliminate or reprogram pathogenic immune cells and restore durable immune balance. Anaveon is backed by Syncona, Forbion, Blue Owl, Novartis Venture Fund, Pfizer Ventures and Pontifax.

About ANV600:
ANV600 is a novel PD-1–targeted IL-2R-βγ agonist that binds PD-1 on a unique non-blocking epitope, distinct from that targeted by pembrolizumab and other PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors. It is designed to preferentially stimulate PD-1⁺ CD8⁺ T cells with a pre-exhausted, cytotoxic phenotype, aiming to activate tumor antigen-experienced T cells within the tumor microenvironment. This targeted, non-blocking PD-1 approach may reduce IL-2–related toxicities, enhance tumor selectivity, and potentiate responses in checkpoint-refractory tumors without compromising combination therapies.

Find out more at  > anaveon.com