Promise & challenges in discovering cellular immunotherapies &T cell engagers for solid tumor indications

David McCall, Editor, Cell & Gene Therapy Insights, speaks to Pallavur Sivakumar, Vice President and Head of Discovery at ImmunoOncology and Cell Therapy Thematic Research Center

Pallavur Sivakumar is currently Vice President and Head of Discovery, in the ImmunoOncology and Cell Therapy Thematic Research Center in Seattle. In his current role, Pallavur leads the Discovery efforts for IO/CT and is responsible for the early pipeline across all modalities (biologics, small molecules and cell therapy). Pallavur also helps establish and execute on the broader IO/CT Strategy, including working to identify and work with key external partnerships. Pallavur joined Celgene in 2015. He has over 20 years of biotech/pharma experience spanning early to late phases of drug development in Inflammation, Oncology, Immuno-Oncology, Virology and Diabetic Complications. Pallavur was born in India and has an undergraduate degree in Pharmacy (B.Pharm) and Biology (MSc). After a PhD in Immunology at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where his work focused on development of NK cells and the NK cell receptor repertoire, he moved to Seattle and has been in Seattle biotech industry at Immunex, ZymoGenetics and Novo Nordisk. He also spent 2 years at Novo Nordisk Headquarters in Copenhagen where he was responsible for Novo’s Inflammation Portfolio and in establishing/executing strategy for the Inflammation area.

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