Tyra Biosciences, Inc, a precision oncology company focused on developing purpose-built therapies to overcome tumor resistance and improve outcomes for patients with cancer announced that its Chief Financial Officer, Esther van den Boom, will be stepping down to transition into an advisory role at the end of 2022. TYRA also announced that Alan Fuhrman has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer effective January 1, 2023, and Ms. van den Boom will support the transition.
"On behalf of everyone at TYRA, I want to thank Esther for her exceptional contributions, and we are pleased that she will remain involved with TYRA as an advisor," said Todd Harris, CEO of TYRA. "We are well-positioned to continue building on the recent momentum across all aspects of our business. Alan is a recognized leader with a track record and breadth of experience that make him uniquely suited to step into this role. He will assume all financial leadership as we advance into the clinic with TYRA-300 and continue to progress our FGFR-focused pipeline of programs."
"I couldn't be more pleased to join TYRA at this pivotal time in the company's growth. TYRA has a rich pipeline of precision oncology programs, including the first oral FGFR3-selective inhibitor, TYRA-300, to receive IND clearance from the FDA, and a wealth of future opportunity in targeting FGFR1/2/3, achondroplasia, FGFR4 and RET," added Mr. Fuhrman. "I look forward to working with Todd and the team to fulfill TYRA's strategic and financial objectives, with the goal to change the lives of thousands of patients."
Mr. Fuhrman is a veteran leader and board member in the biotechnology industry, with a proven track record of guiding companies through key periods of growth including late-stage clinical development, and strategic transactions with pharmaceutical partners, including mergers and acquisitions. Prior to joining TYRA, Mr. Fuhrman served as interim President, CEO and board member of Checkmate Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from October 2021 through February of 2022 and remained on the board of directors until its acquisition by Regeneron in May 2022. Prior to that, Mr. Fuhrman served as the Chief Financial Officer of Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from December 2017 through June 2020. Before joining Amplyx, he served as CFO of Mirna Therapeutics, a publicly traded, clinical-stage microRNA company, that merged with Synlogic in August 2017. Mr. Fuhrman also served on the board of directors and as Chair of the Audit Committee for Loxo Oncology from January 2015 until its sale to Eli Lilly in February 2019. Mr. Fuhrman previously served as CFO of Ambit Biosciences, where he helped lead the company through its initial public offering and oversaw financial, investor and administrative operations until its sale to Daiichi Sankyo in January 2015. Earlier in his career, Mr. Fuhrman practiced as a certified public accountant with Coopers & Lybrand. He received a B.S. in both Business Administration and Agricultural Economics from Montana State University. Currently, he is a member of the board of directors of both SpringWorks Therapeutics and Esperion Therapeutics.
"It has been my privilege to serve as Chief Financial Officer of TYRA since shortly after the company's inception," said Ms. van den Boom. "I'm very proud of what we've been able to accomplish, having evolved into a publicly traded company with an operational infrastructure that we believe will assist us in pursuing rapid growth and expansion. I am excited for the future at TYRA."
Source: Tyra Biosciences
