Pyxis Oncology Appoints Thomas Civik Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Pyxis Oncology installs seasoned deal-tested biotech leader Thomas Civik as CEO and chair while signaling multiple MICVO data readouts in late 2026.
Rhea-AI Summary
Pyxis Oncology (PYXS) appointed Thomas Civik as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, effective September 4, 2026.
Civik had been Interim CEO since February 2026 and a director since 2021. Co-founder and founding Chairman John Flavin becomes Lead Independent Director and remains on the Board. The leadership transition is framed as supporting progress of lead candidate MICVO through upcoming clinical milestones in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC).
Civik’s prior roles include President and CEO of Five Prime Therapeutics, acquired by Amgen for $1.9 billion, and senior positions at ImCheck Therapeutics, Repare Therapeutics, Foundation Medicine and Genentech. Pyxis expects updated data from its ongoing Phase 1 MICVO monotherapy study in 2L+ R/M HNSCC in Fall 2026 and from its Phase 1/2 pembrolizumab combination study in 1L R/M HNSCC in Q4 2026. MICVO has FDA Fast Track designation in R/M HNSCC after platinum and anti‑PD-(L)1 therapy.
Positive
- Leadership formalized: Interim CEO Thomas Civik appointed permanent CEO and Chairman effective September 4, 2026
- Experienced track record: Civik led Five Prime Therapeutics through a $1.9 billion acquisition by Amgen
- Near-term catalysts: MICVO Phase 1 monotherapy data in 2L+ R/M HNSCC expected in Fall 2026
- Additional readout: Phase 1/2 MICVO plus pembrolizumab data in 1L R/M HNSCC expected in Q4 2026
- Regulatory asset: MICVO holds FDA Fast Track Designation in R/M HNSCC after platinum and anti‑PD-(L)1 therapy
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
- Appointment effective date
- September 4, 2026
- Thomas Civik appointed CEO and Chairman
- Monotherapy data update
- Fall 2026
- MICVO Phase 1 monotherapy study in 2L+ R/M HNSCC
- Combination data update
- Q4 2026
- MICVO Phase 1/2 combination study with pembrolizumab
Historical Context
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Interim CEO Thomas Civik participated in three scheduled September investor conference fireside chats.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
antibody-drug conjugate medical
extracellular matrix medical
fast track designation regulatory
recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma medical
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
John Flavin, Co-Founder and Founding Chairman, to serve as Lead Independent Director of the Board
Leadership transition reflects continued focus on advancing MICVO through key clinical milestones
BOSTON, Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pyxis Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: PYXS), a clinical-stage company developing next-generation therapeutics for difficult-to-treat cancers, announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Thomas Civik as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, effective as of September 4, 2026. Mr. Civik has served as Interim Chief Executive Officer since February 2026 and as a member of Pyxis Oncology’s Board of Directors since 2021.
In connection with Mr. Civik’s appointment as Chairman, John Flavin, co-founder and founding Chairman of Pyxis Oncology, will transition to Lead Independent Director and will continue to serve as a member of the Board. Mr. Flavin has provided leadership to Pyxis Oncology since its founding and has played an instrumental role in the Company’s formation, growth and evolution into the clinical-stage organization it is today.
“Over the past several months, Tom has demonstrated the leadership, strategic focus and disciplined execution the Board believes are needed as Pyxis Oncology approaches key clinical milestones for MICVO,” said John Flavin, Lead Independent Director of Pyxis Oncology. “He brings a deep understanding of the Company, its science and its strategy, and during his time as Interim Chief Executive Officer, the Company has continued to advance MICVO, strengthen its financial position and remain focused on generating the clinical evidence needed to evaluate MICVO’s potential for patients. The Board has full confidence in Tom and is pleased to appoint him Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.”
“I am honored by the Board’s confidence and proud to continue leading Pyxis Oncology at such an important time for the Company,” said Thomas Civik, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. “I want to thank John for his tremendous leadership and commitment to Pyxis Oncology. His vision and guidance have helped shape the Company from its earliest days, and I am grateful that we will continue to benefit from his experience and perspective as Lead Independent Director.”
Mr. Civik continued, “Our extraordinary team at Pyxis Oncology has executed with speed, precision, and a deep commitment to finding new treatment options for difficult-to-treat cancers. With important clinical milestones ahead, our focus remains on generating the clinical evidence needed to evaluate MICVO’s potential to address the significant unmet need in head and neck cancer. I look forward to working alongside our talented team as we continue to execute on our strategy and deliver meaningful progress for patients while building long-term value for shareholders.”
Mr. Civik most recently served as the Chairman of ImCheck Therapeutics (acquired by Ipsen) and Repare Therapeutics (acquired by Xoma). He also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Five Prime Therapeutics until its acquisition by Amgen for
Pyxis Oncology expects to report updated data from the ongoing MICVO Phase 1 monotherapy study in second-line and beyond (2L+) recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) in the Fall of 2026. The update is expected to include detailed analysis of patients treated at or below dose cap, including the impact on safety, tolerability, efficacy and initial durability. The Company also expects to report updated data from its ongoing Phase 1/2 combination study with pembrolizumab in first-line (1L) R/M HNSCC in the fourth quarter of 2026.
About Pyxis Oncology, Inc.
Pyxis Oncology, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for difficult-to-treat cancers. The Company’s lead candidate, micvotabart pelidotin (MICVO), is a first-in-concept antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets extradomain-B of fibronectin (EDB+FN), a non-cellular structural component of the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM). EDB+FN is selectively overexpressed in the tumor microenvironment of a wide range of solid tumors and largely absent from normal adult tissues. MICVO is designed to treat solid tumors through a three-pronged mechanism of action: direct cancer cell killing, bystander effect and immunogenic cell death. MICVO is currently being evaluated as monotherapy in a Phase 1 clinical study in patients with recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) and in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in a Phase 1/2 clinical study in patients with R/M HNSCC and other solid tumors. Pyxis Oncology is focused on advancing MICVO, with the goal of improving outcomes for patients living with R/M HNSCC and contributing to meaningful progress in cancer treatment.
MICVO received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with R/M HNSCC whose disease has progressed following treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy and an anti-PD-(L)1 therapy.
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.
To learn more, visit www.pyxisoncology.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws. These statements are often identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “to be,” “will,” “would,” or the negative or plural of these words, or similar expressions or variations, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. We cannot assure you that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified herein, and those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” set forth in Part II, Item 1A. of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 13, 2026, and our other filings, each of which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date hereof and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain, and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.
Pyxis Oncology Contact
IR@pyxisoncology.com
FAQ
What changes in board roles accompany Thomas Civik’s appointment?
With Thomas Civik becoming Chairman alongside his Chief Executive Officer role, John Flavin, co-founder and founding Chairman, transitions to Lead Independent Director while continuing to serve as a member of the Board.
When are the next clinical data updates for MICVO expected?
Pyxis Oncology expects to report updated data in Fall 2026 from the ongoing MICVO Phase 1 monotherapy study in second-line and beyond recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). The company also expects updated data in the fourth quarter of 2026 from its ongoing Phase 1/2 MICVO combination study with pembrolizumab in first-line R/M HNSCC.
What is MICVO and how is it designed to work?
MICVO (micvotabart pelidotin) is described as a first-in-concept antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting extradomain-B of fibronectin (EDB+FN), a structural component of the tumor extracellular matrix that is selectively overexpressed in many solid tumors and largely absent from normal adult tissues. MICVO is designed with a three-pronged mechanism of action: direct cancer cell killing, a bystander effect, and immunogenic cell death.
In which trials and indications is MICVO currently being evaluated?
MICVO is being evaluated as monotherapy in a Phase 1 clinical study in patients with recurrent and metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC). It is also being studied in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in a Phase 1/2 clinical study in patients with R/M HNSCC and other solid tumors.
What does MICVO’s FDA Fast Track Designation cover?
MICVO has received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma whose disease has progressed following treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy and an anti-PD-(L)1 therapy.