Step Pharma Appoints Dr Philip Beer as Chief Scientific Officer

St. Genis-Pouilly, France, 04 January 2023

Philip is a board-certified haematologist with over 16 years of frontline healthcare experience as well as biopharmaceutical industry experience, particularly in translational medicine, drug development, and biomarker discovery.

He joined Step Pharma in June 2021 as Vice President, Head of Research & Translation Medicine and has led the Company’s research strategy and execution on the run up to Step Pharma’s lead asset, the targeted CTP synthase 1 (CTPS1) inhibitor STP938, entering the clinic in both the UK and US with compelling preclinical data in support.
Philip is being promoted to Chief Scientific Officer from Vice President, Head of Research & Translational Medicine at Step Pharma. In his new role, he will lead the Company’s research activities with a focus on further development of STP938, a first-in-class, highly selective, orally bioavailable inhibitor of CTPS1 currently being evaluated for safety and efficacy in T cell and B cell lymphomas.

Prior to joining Step Pharma, Philip held senior leadership roles in biotech and biopharma companies, overseeing oncology drug development and biomarker discovery programmes. He is a cofounder of Gabriel Precision Oncology, a clinical software company also focussed on improving outcomes for those living with cancer.

Andrew Parker, Chief Executive Officer of Step Pharma said:

“It has been a privilege working with Philip and advancing STP938 to the clinic with a strong pre-clinical data package built under his stewardship. As Chief Scientific Officer and with his extensive experience in leading oncology drug discovery and development programmes, he will continue his invaluable work to progress our pipeline of a novel class of oral drugs that specifically inhibit CTPS1, with the potential to yield highly selective, safe and effective treatments for both blood cancers and solid tumours..”

Dr Philip Beer, Chief Scientific Officer of Step Pharma, commented:

“I am honoured to be working with such a driven leadership team and thrilled to be promoted to the role of Chief Scientific Officer. Step Pharma is a highly innovative, research driven company with high quality science which has the potential to transform how we treat cancer.  I remain committed to bringing Step Pharma’s targeted therapies to the clinic and to continue to develop life-saving treatments for patients.”

Philip is a Member of the Royal College of Physicians, UK, and a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, UK. He holds a PhD in molecular cancer biology from the University of Cambridge, UK. Following this he conducted post-doctoral research studies at the BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada, and has more than 100 peer-reviewed publications. Philip is an Honorary Professor of Translational Medical at the Hull York Medical School, UK.