Immunology Leadership Strengthened
Harbour BioMed Appoints Dr. Lloyd Klickstein as Scientific Advisor for Immunology, Accelerating Development
Harbour BioMed has named Dr. Lloyd Klickstein as its new Scientific Advisor for Immunology, the company announced on June 24, 2024. Klickstein brings more than 20 years of drug development experience, including co-founding Versanis Bio, which Eli Lilly acquired for up to $1.925 billion in 2023. PR Newswire
Dr. Klickstein currently serves as CEO of Koslapp Therapeutics. He will now also guide Harbour BioMed's push to build next-generation antibody therapies for patients with immunological diseases. PR Newswire
Klickstein's Career Built on High-Stakes Drug Development
Before joining Harbour BioMed's advisory board, Klickstein held senior roles at some of the world's top drug companies. He served as Chief Scientific Officer at resTORbio, where he oversaw clinical trials for mTOR inhibitors. Before that, he spent years leading the New Indications Discovery Unit at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, hunting for new uses for existing drug targets. PR Newswire
He also served as Chief Innovation Officer at Adicet Bio. His biggest exit came with Versanis Bio, which he co-founded in 2021. Eli Lilly snapped it up in July 2023 for up to $1.925 billion, drawn largely by the promise of the drug bimagrumab for cardiometabolic disease. PR Newswire
Harbour BioMed Bets Big on Immunology Pipeline
Harbour BioMed is a clinical-stage biotech listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (ticker: 02142). The company uses its own transgenic mouse platforms to make fully human antibodies. Its lead immunology drug, Batoclimab (HBM9161), is currently in Phase III trials for conditions like Generalized Myasthenia Gravis and Thyroid Eye Disease. PR Newswire
The company operates out of Cambridge, MA, Rotterdam, and Suzhou. More than 45 global partners use its Harbour Mice® platform as of 2023. Founder and CEO Dr. Jingsong Wang said Klickstein's "profound expertise in immunology and his proven track record in drug development will be invaluable" as the company expands its clinical programs. PR Newswire
Klickstein Sees 'Significant Unmet Needs' in Immunology
Klickstein was direct about why he joined. "Harbour BioMed has established a sophisticated platform and a promising pipeline that addresses significant unmet needs in immunology," he said. He added that he is "eager to collaborate with the team to advance these innovative therapies through the clinical stages." PR Newswire
His experience at Novartis focused on orphan diseases — rare conditions with few treatment options. That background could steer Harbour BioMed toward high-need, lower-competition therapeutic areas, where a well-designed drug can win approval faster and command stronger pricing. PR Newswire
A Strategic Hire With One Big Open Question
Klickstein's hire gives Harbour BioMed a direct link to top-tier Western biotech networks, including ties to Eli Lilly and Novartis. Analysts have noted that HBM's platforms are strong, but its ability to execute in Western markets has needed more experienced leadership. Klickstein fits that gap. PR Newswire
Still, one question lingers: Klickstein is also the sitting CEO of Koslapp Therapeutics. Running one company while advising another is a real time commitment. It remains to be seen whether his role at Harbour BioMed will be hands-on or largely serve to boost the company's profile for future deals and capital raises. PR Newswire
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