Centauri Therapeutics Limited, an immunotherapy company with a proprietary platform technology applicable across a wide range of therapeutic indications, has appointed Dr. Debra Barker as Chief Medical Officer (CMO).

An experienced clinical immunologist with broad executive experience across both big pharma and biotech, Barker joins Centauri’s leadership team to advance therapeutic development pipelines and ensure the smooth progression of the Company’s lead candidate through Phase I clinical trials.

Centauri has been conducting regulatory preclinical activities following the selection of its first clinical candidate in the ABX-01 program in March 20251, to facilitate the transition to first-in-human studies for Gram-negative bacterial infections. The appointment of Barker as CMO is an integral part of this transition, bringing the clinical immunology expertise necessary to advance to a Phase I study and enabling the Company to streamline and optimize its clinical strategy.

Dr. Jennifer Schneider, CEO, Centauri Therapeutics, said: “Dr. Barker’s expertise as a clinical immunologist, combined with the breadth and depth of her executive experience, will be invaluable to Centauri as we approach our first clinical studies.”

Experience

Barker has more than 25 years’ experience in senior leadership and commercial positions across biotech and pharma, including Novartis, Roche, and GSK. Most notably, at Novartis, she held several senior scientific, operational and commercial roles over 17 years, including Development Head for Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Transplantation.

Barker also brings significant expertise as a biotech executive, having held Chief Medical Officer positions at Destiny Pharma and Polyneuron Pharmaceuticals AG. As Chief Medical and Development Officer for Swiss based Biotech Polyphor, she was the medical lead for the company’s highly successful IPO on the SIX Swiss. Currently, Barker also serves as Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Scientific Committee for CureVac NV, as well as Non-Executive Director at Qureight Ltd. Dr. Barker holds a Medical Degree from the University of Cambridge.