Summit Therapeutics (SMMT) appoints Robert LaCaze as CCO

Summit Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: SMMT) today announced that Robert LaCaze has joined Summit Therapeutics as Chief Commercial Officer, reporting to Manmeet S. Soni, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.

Robert W. Duggan and Dr. Maky Zanganeh, Co-CEOs of Summit Therapeutics, stated, “Robert’s extensive experience and proven track record in the oncology space make him an exceptional addition to our team. His leadership will be instrumental as we seek to bring ivonescimab to patients in need. We are truly excited to have him on board and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our commercial efforts.”

Robert LaCaze is a seasoned biopharmaceutical executive with over 35 years of extensive leadership experience in commercial strategy and execution, with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and expanding market presence for various oncology products. He has held senior positions at major pharmaceutical companies like Bayer Healthcare and Bristol-Myers Squibb. At Bayer, he served as Executive Vice President and Head of the Oncology Strategic Business Unit, overseeing the global oncology franchise and serving on the Executive Committee for Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Before that, he was Senior Vice President and Head of Global Oncology at Bristol-Myers Squibb, leading the vision, strategy, and execution of the immuno-oncology franchise.

“We are delighted to welcome Mr. LaCaze to Summit Therapeutics. His vast experience and visionary leadership in building oncology commercial teams at large pharmaceutical companies will be invaluable as we continue our potential commercial launch of ivonescimab,” added Manmeet Soni. “We are confident that Mr. LaCaze’s strategic insights and operational expertise will significantly enhance our ability to execute on our mission to build a viable health care organization intended to improve quality of life, increase potential duration of life, and resolve serious medical needs.”

Mr. LaCaze has experience across various therapeutic areas and modalities, including biologics, cell therapies, radiopharmaceuticals, and diagnostics. He has a proven track record of launching multi-billion-dollar products and building and growing blockbuster drug franchises. Prior to joining Summit, Mr. LaCaze was CEO and President of Mnemo Therapeutics. He has served on various advisory boards and received numerous awards, including being named a Top 25 Healthcare Technology Leaders of New Jersey for 2022 by The Healthcare Technology Report. Additionally, he serves on the Board for Axiom REACH, a non-profit organization aiding underprivileged cancer patients. Mr. LaCaze received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Louisiana Tech University.

“I am thrilled to join Team Summit and contribute to the organization’s next steps,” added Mr. LaCaze. “Summit's commitment to excellence and its highly-accomplished team provide me with great confidence about what can be achieved with such an innovative, novel product candidate, ivonescimab. I look forward to working with the team to help drive a successful commercial launch of ivonescimab and the potential to make a meaningful impact in the lives of patients with cancer.”

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