Connect Biopharma Appoints Industry Veteran Jim Schoeneck to its Board of Directors

Rhea-AI Summary

Connect Biopharma (NASDAQ:CNTB) has appointed industry veteran Jim Schoeneck to its Board of Directors, expanding the board from six to seven members. Schoeneck brings over 40 years of experience in developing and commercializing breakthrough medicines.

Currently serving as Chairman of the Board for FibroGen, Inc. and Calidi Biotherapeutics, Schoeneck will contribute to advancing Connect's lead candidate rademikibart, which is being developed for acute exacerbations in asthma and COPD patients. The company expects clinical data from its Phase 2 Seabreeze STAT studies in the first half of 2026.

[ "Addition of experienced board member with 40+ years in biotech development and commercialization", "Strategic expertise in both organic and inorganic growth", "Relevant experience as Chairman of the National Board of Directors of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America" ]

– Mr. Schoeneck is a seasoned industry executive and director with deep expertise in development and commercialization of breakthrough products and guiding companies through significant transformation and growth –

SAN DIEGO, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Connect Biopharma Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: CNTB) (Connect Biopharma, Connect, or the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on transforming care for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, today announced the expansion of the size of its Board of Directors from six to seven directors and the appointment of Jim Schoeneck as a director effective today.

“We are pleased to welcome Jim to our Board of Directors,” said Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos, Chairman of the Board of Directors. “His deep expertise in drug development and commercialization will make him an invaluable asset as we continue to build a proven team of industry experts to rapidly advance the development and commercialization of rademikibart.”

Barry Quart, Chief Executive Officer of Connect Biopharma added, “Rademikibart has demonstrated a differentiated clinical profile that would uniquely position it to rapidly treat the millions of patients with asthma or COPD who experience an acute exacerbation annually. We look forward to leveraging Jim’s strategic and commercial acumen as we advance our Phase 2 Seabreeze STAT studies towards clinical data expected in the first half of 2026.”

“I am delighted to join Connect and have been impressed by the potential of rademikibart to transform the treatment paradigm for acute and chronic asthma and COPD patients. I look forward to working closely with the team to guide the Company’s development efforts and chart a course for long-term commercial success,” said Mr. Schoeneck.

Mr. Schoeneck is an accomplished biotech leader with more than 40 years of experience developing and commercializing breakthrough medicines and guiding companies through significant transformation, including both organic and inorganic growth. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of each of FibroGen, Inc. and Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc. Mr. Schoeneck previously served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of each of Depomed, Inc., BrainCells Inc., ActivX Biosciences, Inc. and Prometheus Laboratories Inc., and Chairman of the National Board of Directors of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Mr. Schoeneck began his career at Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Inc. He holds a B.S. from Jacksonville State University.

About Connect Biopharma

Connect Biopharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming care for asthma and COPD. Headquartered in San Diego, California, the Company is advancing rademikibart, a next-generation, potentially best-in-class antibody designed to target IL-4Rα. The Company is currently conducting global clinical studies of rademikibart for the treatment of acute exacerbations of asthma and COPD, areas with significant unmet need. Connect also has an exclusive license and collaboration agreement for rademikibart with Simcere in China.

For more information visit www.connectbiopharm.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended (the “Act”). Forward-looking statements are statements that are not of historical fact and include, without limitation, statements regarding future events, our future financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and plans, prospective products (as well as their potential to achieve a differentiated, competitive, or favorable benefit or profile or trend, including on safety, tolerability, improvement, maintenance, clinical response, dosing, efficacy and/or convenience), planned or expected product approval applications or approvals, anticipated milestones, expected data readouts and enrollments, research and development plans and costs, potential future partnerships, expectations about existing partnerships, timing and likelihood of success, objectives of management for future operations, future results of anticipated product development efforts, adequacy of existing cash and potential partnership funding to fund operations and capital expenditure requirements, anticipated patient populations or market opportunities for our prospective products, if approved, as well as statements regarding industry trends. These statements are based on management’s current expectations of future events only as of the date of this press release and are inherently subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond our control, including, among other things: the ability of our clinical trials to demonstrate safety and efficacy of our product candidates and other positive results; whether we will need expanded or additional trials in order to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates; our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval of our product candidates; existing regulations and regulatory developments in the U.S., the PRC, Europe and other jurisdictions; the ability of our current cash and investments position to support planned operations; our plans and ability to obtain, maintain, protect and enforce our intellectual property rights and our proprietary technologies, including extensions of existing patent terms where available; our continued reliance on third parties to conduct additional clinical trials of our product candidates, and for the manufacture of our product candidates for preclinical studies and clinical trials; and the degree of market acceptance of our product candidates, if approved, by physicians, patients, healthcare payors and others in the medical community.

Words such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “feel,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “optimistic,” “plan,” “potential,” “promising,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements necessarily contain these identifying words. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Connect Biopharma that any of its expectations, projections or plans will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and other risks described in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Further information regarding these and other risks is included under the heading “Risk Factors” in our annual and periodic reports filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements should not be taken as forecasts or promises nor should they be taken as implying any indication, assurance or guarantee that the assumptions on which such forward-looking statements have been made are correct or exhaustive or, in the case of the assumptions, fully stated in this presentation. Drug development and commercialization involve a high degree of risk, and only a small number of research and development programs result in commercialization of a product. Results in early-stage clinical trials may not be indicative of full results or results from later stage or larger scale clinical trials and do not ensure regulatory approval. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the scientific data presented or these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this presentation. Except as required by law, Connect Biopharma undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. Connect Biopharma claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Act for all forward-looking statements.

This press release discusses our product candidate, rademikibart, which is under clinical study and has not yet been approved for marketing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the National Medical Products Administration, or by any other regulatory agency. No representation is made as to the safety or effectiveness of rademikibart for the uses for which it is being studied. The trademarks included herein are the property of the owners thereof and are used for reference purposes only.

Investor Relations Contact:

Alex Lobo
Precision AQ
Alex.lobo@precisionaq.com
(212) 698-8802

Media Contact:

Ignacio Guerrero-Ros, Ph.D., or David Schull
Russo Partners, LLC
Ignacio.guerrero-ros@russopartnersllc.com
David.schull@russopartnersllc.com
(858) 717-2310 or (646) 942-5604

FAQ

Who is Jim Schoeneck and why did Connect Biopharma (CNTB) appoint him to their board?

Jim Schoeneck is a biotech industry veteran with over 40 years of experience in developing and commercializing breakthrough medicines. He was appointed to help guide Connect Biopharma's development efforts, particularly for their drug rademikibart.

What is the current status of Connect Biopharma's (CNTB) rademikibart development?

Rademikibart is currently in Phase 2 Seabreeze STAT studies for treating acute exacerbations in asthma and COPD patients, with clinical data expected in the first half of 2026.

What positions does Jim Schoeneck currently hold besides his new role at Connect Biopharma?

Jim Schoeneck currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for both FibroGen, Inc. and Calidi Biotherapeutics, Inc.

How many members are now on Connect Biopharma's (CNTB) Board of Directors?

Connect Biopharma's Board of Directors has expanded from six to seven members with Jim Schoeneck's appointment.

What is the potential impact of rademikibart for Connect Biopharma (CNTB)?

Rademikibart has shown a differentiated clinical profile that could potentially transform treatment for millions of patients with acute and chronic asthma and COPD exacerbations annually.