New CEO to Steer Hookipa Development

Hookipa Biotech, which is pioneering a new class of immunotherapies and vaccines, has announced the appointment of Mr. Jörn Aldag as CEO, who brings significant leadership experience and sector knowledge from leading biotechnology companies including uniQure, Molecular Partners and Unum Therapeutics. In particular, he has an impressive track record of building companies based on unique technology platforms and bringing them to public markets in order to access the depth of capital needed to develop clinical stage assets. Alongside his CEO role at Hookipa, Mr. Aldag will remain Chairman of Molecular Partners and a Board member of Unum Therapeutics, both of which are developing next-gen immuno-oncology therapies.

Mr. Aldag replaces Dr. Katherine Cohen, who started the Company in 2011 and led its development from early science to clinical stage. As CEO, Dr. Cohen successfully raised €27 million in funding for the Company through Series A and Series B financing rounds, as well as raising an additional €11 million in non-dilutive funds.

Commenting on his new role, Mr. Aldag said, “Hookipa’s Vaxwave^® technology platform has tremendous application in both infectious disease and in oncology and I applaud what Katherine and the team have built to bring this vaccine technology to the next level. The Company is at a very exciting time of its development. Our lead program, HB-101 against Cytomegalovirus, having completed pre-clinical testing and GMP manufacturing, is poised to start a Phase 1 trial in Q3 2016 and our Human Papillomavirus immunotherapy candidate is entering pre-clinical testing.”

Dr. Cohen commented, “It has been a tremendous journey to lead Hookipa and bring the Company to what it is today. I look forward to seeing further success of the Company under Jörn’s leadership.”