Kinex Pharmaceuticals, a specialty biotech focused on the development and commercialization of next generation oral therapies for cancer diseases, has appointed Dr. Rudolf Kwan chief medical officer and Dr. Wing-Kai Chan as head of Clinical Operations, Asia/Pacific. Kinex currently has four oral oncology drug candidates allowed in the clinic and the appointments of Kwan and Chan adds significant experience in clinical oncology drug development to the Kinex executive team.

Kinex CEO Dr. Johnson Lau said, "These appointments are very consistent with the continued evolution of Kinex into a global drug development organization as we progress several drugs further in the clinic. In addition, their clinical drug development experience spans across multiple continents and ideally positions them to lead our clinical programs and strategies and also work collaboratively with the Kinex partnerships previously announced."

Kwan said, "Kinex has assembled a very impressive leadership team and global drug development strategy. Chan's experience in clinical oncology and pharmaceutical drug development in Asia is critical to Kinex's goals globally."

Dr. David Hangauer, Kinex chief scientific officer said, "Dr. Chan has an impressive background with patients and research in Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Kwan's clinical and regulatory experiences in pharmaceutical drug development are key ingredients for our company as we continue to further our goals advancing more drug candidates into the clinic. With our previous appointment of Dr. Daniel Von Hoff as chair of Kinex's Clinical Advisory Committee, we have assembled a world class team of experienced clinical oncology drug development professionals."

Kwan's experience includes more than 25 years of clinical drug development experience and prior to joining Kinex had responsibility for all clinical development globally as head of Clinical Operations for U.S., Latin America and Asia-Pacific at Schering-Plough Research Institute.  

Chan's previous roles included director, National Center of Excellence for Clinical Trial and Research at the National University Hospital, Taiwan, and Medical Director in Roche Asia/Pacific and in that capacity, participated in the clinical development of a number of anti-cancer drugs such as: Rituxan, Herceptin and Xeloda. He also is a member of American Society of Clinical Oncology.