AusBiotech appoints biotech exec as new director

Biotech News: AusBiotech announced today the appointment of a senior biotechnology executive as an AusBiotech Director, contributing strong commercialisation and capital-raising expertise to the Board.

Dr James Campbell is the CEO of Patrys Limited, an ASX-listed biotech company developing novel antibody therapeutics for cancer. As a senior biotechnology executive, Dr Campbell’s successful career in biotech includes bench research, academic technology transfer, establishment of early-stage start-ups, leading private and public companies, and making hundred million-dollar deals.

AusBiotech Chair, Michelle Burke, has welcomed his appointment and said, “The Board welcomes Dr Campbell to his new role on the AusBiotech Board. As the CEO of a home-grown biotech company, and with previous success in developing and commercialising novel health treatments, he represents the heart of AusBiotech’s membership. His global skills and expertise will be invaluable as AusBiotech drives and promotes the growth of the sector.”

Dr James Campbell said, “It is a great privilege to join respected leaders in the biotechnology sector as an appointed AusBiotech Director, to further the capabilities and reach of Australia’s vibrant and globally-recognised ecosystem of research and development. AusBiotech represents a credible and united voice for a variety of stakeholders, and I look forward to contributing to combined advocacy efforts that support research, development, and investment activity in this space.”

With more than 25 years’ experience in research, research management, consulting and venture capital in Australia and internationally, Dr Campbell has a unique set of skills that enable him to identify and monetise future trends in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

After being a researcher with CSIRO, Dr Campbell was appointed to the investment committee of Uniseed, where he evaluated and oversaw the spin-out of numerous ventures from the University of Melbourne, including Hatchtech. Dr Campbell then moved to ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals as COO, helping guide the company to its eventual $230M acquisition by Cephalon in 2011, which at the time was the largest sale of an Australian biotech company by enterprise value.

Dr Campbell co-founded Gemini Biotechnology, where he advised Australian and international life science companies on fundraising, M&A, partnering and corporate strategy. Clients ranged from ASX-listed biotech companies through to U.S. university spin-outs. This included time on the small executive team at Evolve Biosystems, a private microbiome/probiotics company, where he helped develop the strategy and business plan that grew the company from a US$150k seed round to a US$300M company, with product on market.

Dr Campbell sits on the Board of Directors of ASX-listed biotech company Prescient Therapeutics, and has previously served on the Advisory Board for the Centre for Innovation in Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Treatment at Deakin University, the IP and Commercialisation Committee of the Cooperative Research Centre for Mental Health and several government advisory panels.

Holding a PhD in plant biochemistry, Dr Campbell completed a MBA at the Melbourne Business School, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is the author of more than 15 peer-reviewed papers in fields ranging from plant biochemistry to bioinformatics and antibody development, and is a named inventor for the therapeutic antibody candidate PAT-DX1.

The current Board members include:

• Michelle Burke, Chair, AusBiotech & Principal and Director, Indigo Advisory
• Dr Megan Baldwin, Deputy Chair, AusBiotech & Managing Director and CEO, Opthea Limited
• Lorraine Chiroiu, CEO and Managing Director, AusBiotech
• Serg Duchini, Senior Partner Deloitte Asia Pacific. Director, Deloitte Tax Services Pty Ltd
• Dr Jan Tennent, FTSE FASM GAICD, Founder & Principal, ConnectBio
• Dr Dean Moss, CEO, UniQuest Pty Ltd
• Dr Serge Scrofani, Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development, CSL Ltd
• Linda Peterson, Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary, BioCurate
• Dr James Campbell, CEO & Managing Director, Patrys Ltd