Iliad hires cancer specialist, ramps up discovery

Melbourne-based Iliad Chemicals has appointed former Cerylid Biosciences scientist Dr Gino Vairo as head of drug discovery and development as it ramps up its efforts to identify a lead candidate.

"Gino will head up drug development as we proceed further into in vitro and in vivo evaluation of clinical candidates," said Iliad CEO Dr Bernard Flynn.

Flynn said Vairo had extensive experience in cancer biology and would bring a greater understanding of potential products to the company. In addition, his biotechnology experience, including stints at Cerylid and Amrad, means that Vairo would be assisting with business development as well as leading the scientific team.

"He provides both scientific and business oriented benefits which is obviously advantageous for a small start up company," Flynn said.

Flynn said the company expected to identify a lead candidate for further progression into pre-clinical and clinical studies from the existing portfolio of proprietary novel compounds, which include inhibitors of tubulin polymerisation, a therapeutic target for cancer.

The ANU spin-off, which is based at the Victorian College of Pharmacy, recently received AUD$2 million in venture funding from Start-up Australia Ventures. The company uses a proprietary chemistry strategy to make complex chemical compounds quickly and cheaply.