Autolus Therapeutics strengthens its Board with the appointment of Dr. Robert Iannone as a Non-Executive Director

LONDON, June 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Autolus Therapeutics plc (Nasdaq: AUTL), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation programmed T cell therapies, today announces that Dr. Robert Iannone, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Research & Development of Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc, has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director to Autolus’ Board of Directors, effective as of June 15, 2023. Dr. Iannone will serve as a Class I Director, with an initial term expiring at Autolus’ 2025 Annual General Meeting.

Dr. Iannone brings to Autolus a wealth of experience in the life science industry, having worked across a broad range of therapeutic areas and phases of development, including immuno-oncology programs at Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc, Immunomedics, Inc., AstraZeneca plc and Merck & Co., Inc.

“On behalf of the entire Board and Management Team, we are pleased to welcome Rob to Autolus,” said Dr. Christian Itin, Chief Executive Officer of Autolus. “Rob brings broad experience of drug development and regulatory know-how from his long career in oncology. At a time when we are shaping the product profile for obe-cel beyond ALL and preparing for a BLA filing in r/r adult ALL towards the end of the year, his expertise and knowledge will be invaluable.”

“I am delighted to join the Board of Autolus at such a pivotal time in the Company’s development,” said Dr. Robert Iannone. “Obe-cel has the potential to transform the outlook for adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and behind that, there is a pipeline of CAR T-cell products and technologies, which can impact more broadly on the treatment paradigm for both liquid and solid tumors.”

Prior to joining Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Iannone served as Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer of Immunomedics, Inc. He previously served as Senior Vice President and Head of Immuno-oncology, Global Medicines Development, and the Global Products Vice President at AstraZeneca plc and held several management roles at Merck & Co., Inc., culminating in his role as Executive Director and Section Head of Oncology Clinical Development. Prior to then, Dr. Iannone served as Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Dr. Iannone has also held senior governance and government health advisory roles. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of iTeos Therapeutics and previously served on the Board of Directors of Jounce Therapeutics (acquired by Concentra Biosciences in 2023 for $96.46 million). He has served on the Cancer Steering Committee of the Biomarkers Consortium/Foundation for the National Institutes of Health since 2011, and currently sits on the executive committee of Biomarkers Consortium. Dr. Iannone received an M.D. from Yale University and an M.S.C.E. from University of Pennsylvania. He completed his Residency and Chief Residency in Pediatrics and a Fellowship in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at Johns Hopkins University.