Los Angeles, United States, April 2025 – Dr. Sumant Ramachandra has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer and Board Director of Lutris Pharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the quality of life for cancer patients undergoing EGFR inhibitor and radiation therapy. His appointment comes at a pivotal time as the company advances LUT014, a novel topical B-Raf inhibitor, which has shown promising results in reducing skin toxicities—a common side effect of cancer treatments.
Dr. Ramachandra’s vast experience in pharmaceutical innovation and leadership will guide Lutris Pharma through its next growth phase, particularly following the successful Phase 2 trial of LUT014, which demonstrated the potential to significantly improve patients’ quality of life while maintaining the efficacy of cancer therapies.
In his most recent role, Dr. Ramachandra served as Independent Board Director at Lyell Immunopharma, contributing strategic insights in the immunotherapy space. Prior to this, he spent three years at ImmPACT Bio, initially as President and CEO and later as Chief Executive Officer & Board Director, leading the development of next-generation CAR T-cell therapies until the company’s acquisition by Lyell Immunopharma.
Before ImmPACT Bio, he held multiple leadership roles at Baxter International over a period of nearly five years. He served as President of Global Pharmaceuticals, Chief Science & Technology Officer, and Chairperson of the Global Inclusion Council, where he drove innovation in both the pharmaceutical pipeline and inclusive organizational culture.
Dr. Ramachandra also served as SVP and Head of R&D for Pfizer Essential Health, following his tenure at Hospira (now Pfizer) where he was Chief Scientific Officer and SVP of R&D and Medical & Regulatory Affairs. His earlier career included senior roles in oncology and medical affairs at Merck, Pharmacia, and Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, where he trained as a physician.
He holds an MBA in Management and Finance from The Wharton School and brings a combination of clinical, scientific, and business expertise to Lutris Pharma’s mission.
About Lutris Pharma
Lutris Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. The company is focused on developing innovative topical therapies that mitigate side effects caused by cancer treatments, such as EGFR inhibitors and radiation. Its lead candidate, LUT014, is a first-in-class small molecule topical B-Raf inhibitor currently in Phase 2 clinical trials for metastatic colorectal cancer and Phase 1/2 trials for radiation-induced dermatitis. By addressing dose-limiting toxicities, Lutris Pharma aims to enhance treatment compliance and improve patient outcomes in oncology care.
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