Traws Pharma Adds John Leaman, MD, as Independent Director and Formalizes Appointments of Two Key Executives
Traws Pharma (NASDAQ: TRAW) appointed John Leaman, MD as an independent director effective October 1, 2025, and removed the "interim" title from Iain Dukes and Charles Parker, who are now CEO and CFO, respectively. The Board highlighted Leaman's finance, M&A and corporate‑strategy experience, including roles leading IPOs and Series D financing. Management said the company is preparing to enroll subjects in Phase 2 studies of ratutrelvir, a broadly acting oral COVID antiviral designed for use without ritonavir. The move was presented as strengthening governance and execution as Traws advances clinical development.
Traws Pharma (NASDAQ: TRAW) ha nominato John Leaman, MD come amministratore indipendente con effetto dal 1 ottobre 2025 e ha rimosso il titolo di 'interim' da Iain Dukes e Charles Parker, che ora sono rispettivamente CEO e CFO. Il Consiglio ha evidenziato l'esperienza di Leaman in finanza, fusioni e acquisizioni e strategia aziendale, inclusi ruoli nella guida di IPO e finanziamenti di Serie D. Il management ha dichiarato che l'azienda si sta preparando ad arruolare soggetti negli studi di Fase 2 di ratutrelvir, un antivirale orale a largo spettro contro COVID progettato per essere utilizzato senza ritonavir. La mossa è stata presentata come un rafforzamento della governance e dell'esecuzione mentre Traws avanza nello sviluppo clinico.
Traws Pharma (NASDAQ: TRAW) designó a John Leaman, MD como director independiente con efecto a partir del 1 de octubre de 2025, y quitó el título de 'interino' a Iain Dukes y Charles Parker, que ahora son CEO y CFO, respectivamente. La Junta destacó la experiencia de Leaman en finanzas, fusiones y adquisiciones y estrategia corporativa, incluyendo roles al frente de OPIs y financiamiento de Serie D. La dirección afirmó que la empresa se está preparando para inscribir sujetos en estudios de Fase 2 de ratutrelvir, un antiviral oral de acción amplia contra el COVID diseñado para usarse sin ritonavir. Se presentó la medida como un fortalecimiento de la gobernanza y la ejecución a medida que Traws avanza en el desarrollo clínico.
Traws Pharma (나스닥: TRAW)는 2025년 10월 1일부로 독립 이사로 John Leaman, MD를 선임했고, 이안 듀크스(Iain Dukes)와 찰스 파커(Charles Parker)의 '임시' 타이틀을 제거해 각각 CEO와 CFO로 임명했습니다. 이사회는 Leaman의 재무, M&A 및 기업 전략 경력, IPO 주도 및 시리즈 D 자금 조달 등 역할을 강조했습니다. 경영진은 ritonavir 없이도 사용할 수 있도록 설계된 광범위 작용의 경구용 COVID 항바이러스제인 ratutrelvir의 2상(Phase 2) 시험에 참가자를 등록할 준비를 하고 있다고 밝혔습니다. 이 조치는 거버넌스와 실행력을 강화해 Traws가 임상 개발을 진행하는 것으로 제시되었습니다.
Traws Pharma (NASDAQ : TRAW) a nommé John Leaman, MD comme administrateur indépendant à compter du 1er octobre 2025, et a retiré le titre de « intérimaire » à Iain Dukes et Charles Parker, qui sont désormais CEO et CFO, respectivement. Le Conseil a mis en avant l'expérience de Leaman en finance, fusions et acquisitions et stratégie d'entreprise, y compris des rôles menant des introductions en bourse et des financements de Série D. La direction a indiqué que l'entreprise se prépare à recruter des sujets dans des essais de Phase 2 de ratutrelvir, un antiviral oral à large spectre contre la COVID conçu pour être utilisé sans ritonavir. Cette démarche a été présentée comme un renforcement de la gouvernance et de l'exécution alors que Traws fait progresser le développement clinique.
Traws Pharma (NASDAQ: TRAW) hat John Leaman, MD zum unabhängigen Aufsichtsratmitglied ab dem 1. Oktober 2025 ernannt und den Interims-Titel von Iain Dukes und Charles Parker entfernt, die nun CEO bzw. CFO sind. Der Vorstand hob Leamans Erfahrung in Finanzen, M&A und Unternehmensstrategie hervor, einschließlich Rollen bei Börsengängen und Series-D-Finanzierung. Das Management erklärte, dass das Unternehmen sich darauf vorbereitet, Probanden in Phase 2-Studien von ratutrelvir einzuschreiben, einem breit wirkenden oralen COVID-Antivirale, das ohne Ritonavir verwendet werden soll. Die Maßnahme wurde als Stärkung von Governance und Umsetzung präsentiert, während Traws die klinische Entwicklung vorantreibt.
تراوز فارما (ناسداك: TRAW) عينت جون ليمن، دكتور في الطب كعضو مستقل في المجلس بفعالية من 1 أكتوبر 2025، وأزالت لقب 'مؤقت' من إيان دوكس وكارل Parker، اللذان أصبحا الآن الرئيس التنفيذي والمدير المالي، على التوالي. أبرز المجلس خبرة ليمن في المالية وعمليات الدمج والاستحواذ والاستراتيجية المؤسسية، بما في ذلك أدوار قيادة الاكتتابات الأولية والتمويل من السلسلة D. قالت الإدارة إن الشركة تستعد لإدراج أشخاص في دراسات المرحلة 2 من راتوتريلفير، وهو مضاد فيروسات فموي واسع النشاط ضد COVID مصمم للاستخدام بدون ريتونافير. وُصفت الخطوة بأنها تعزز الحوكمة والتنفيذ مع تقدم تراوز في التطوير السريري.
Traws Pharma (NASDAQ: TRAW) 任命 John Leaman, MD 为独立董事，自2025年10月1日起生效，并消除了 Iain Dukes 与 Charles Parker 的“临时”头衔，他们现分別担任 CEO 和 CFO。董事会强调 Leaman 在金融、并购与企业战略方面的经验，包括领导首次公开募股（IPO）和D轮融资的角色。管理层表示，公司正准备在 Phase 2 研究中招募受试者，用于 ratutrelvir，这是一种广谱作用的口服新冠病毒抗病毒药，设计为无 Ritonavir 使用。此举被视为在 Traws 推进临床开发的过程中加强治理与执行。
- Board adds John Leaman, MD (finance, M&A, corporate strategy)
- CEO title confirmed for Iain Dukes (removes interim)
- CFO title confirmed for Charles Parker (removes interim)
- Preparing Phase 2 enrollment for ratutrelvir (COVID antiviral)
- Phase 2 enrollment pending; clinical efficacy not yet established
NEWTOWN, Pa., Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Traws Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRAW) (“Traws Pharma”, “Traws” or “the Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapies to target critical threats to human health from respiratory viral diseases, today announced the appointment of John Leaman, MD, to its board of directors as an independent director, effective October 1, 2025. In addition, Traws’ Board of Directors (the “Board”) has eliminated the interim notation of its key executives Iain Dukes and Charles Parker, who are now Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, respectively.
"Dr. Leaman brings more than a decade of experience in finance, M&A and corporate strategy, and we are excited to welcome him to our Board of Directors. In addition, eliminating the interim title of our key executive officers indicates the full support of them by the Board," said Jack E. Stover, Chairman of Traws Pharma.
"We believe Dr. Leaman’s insights and guidance will be invaluable as we prepare to enroll subjects in Phase 2 studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of ratutrelvir, designed to be a broadly acting treatment for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 that can be used without ritonavir,” added Iain D. Dukes, MA, DPhil, Chief Executive Officer of Traws Pharma.
John H. Leaman, MD is currently the Chief Financial Officer at Cellarity Inc. During his tenure, he has helped oversee the close of a large pharma partnership, as well as leading the company's Series D crossover financing. Prior to joining Cellarity in 2023, Dr. Leaman served as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Business Officer at Impel Pharmaceuticals LLC, where he helped lead the company's IPO in 2021. Before that, Dr. Leaman served as the Chief Financial Officer and Head of Corporate Development at Selecta Biosciences, Inc. and as Head of Corporate Development at InfaCare Pharmaceutical Corporation until it was acquired by Mallinckrodt plc in 2017. Earlier, Dr. Leaman was the Chief Financial Officer of Medgenics, Inc. and previously held senior roles at Shire plc and Devon Park Bioventures, a venture capital fund targeting investments in therapeutics companies. He began his career serving a range of life sciences companies as an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company.
Dr. Leaman received an MD from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a BA in Psychology, Philosophy and Physiology from Oriel College, University of Oxford while completing a Rhodes Scholarship, and a BS in Biology from Elizabethtown College.
"I am thrilled to join Traws’ Board of Directors as the Company progresses with its lead anti-viral product candidate, ratutrelvir, for COVID,” said Dr. Leaman. "I look forward to working with Traws’ Board and leadership team as it accelerates developing novel therapies to treat respiratory viral diseases."
The appointment further underscores Traws’ focus on strong governance, independent oversight, and disciplined execution.
About Ratutrelvir
Ratutrelvir is an investigational oral, small molecule Mpro (3CL protease) inhibitor designed to be a broadly acting treatment for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 that is used without ritonavir. It has demonstrated in vitro activity against a range of virus strains. Preclinical and Phase 1 studies show that ratutrelvir does not require co-administration with a metabolic inhibitor, such as ritonavir, which could avoid ritonavir-associated drug-drug interactions1, and potentially enable wider patient use. Phase 1 data also show that ratutrelvir’s pharmacokinetic (PK) profile demonstrated maintenance of target blood plasma levels approximately 13 times above the EC50 using the target Phase 2 dosing regimen of 600 mg/day for ten days, which may also reduce the likelihood of clinical rebound and, consequently, reduce the risk for Long COVID2. Industry data indicate that COVID treatment represents a potential multi-billion dollar market opportunity3,4.
About Tivoxavir Marboxil
Tivoxavir marboxil (TXM) is an investigational oral, small molecule CAP-dependent endonuclease inhibitor designed to be administered as a single-dose for the treatment of bird flu and seasonal influenza. It has shown potent in vitro activity against a range of influenza strains in preclinical studies, including a human isolate of the highly pathogenic avian flu H5N1 (bird flu). Consistent, positive preclinical data from three animal species indicate that a single dose of TXM demonstrated a therapeutic effect against H5N1 bird flu. Seasonal influenza represents an estimated multi-billion dollar antiviral market opportunity, largely driven by global health organizations, practice guidelines and government tenders and inclusion in drug stock piling initiatives5,6, with upside potential from potential pandemic flu outbreaks including H5N1 bird flu. We believe that these data support further development of TXM as a treatment for bird flu.
Source information:
- https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/cpt.2646
- Carly Herbert et al. (2025) Clinical Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciae539
- Pfizer Inc. 10K report 2024, Feb 27, 2025
- Merck & Co 10K, Feb 25, 2025
- Per link
- TRAW data on file
About Traws Pharma, Inc.
Traws Pharma is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing novel therapies to target critical threats to human health in respiratory viral diseases. Traws integrates antiviral drug development, medical intelligence and regulatory strategy to meet real world challenges in the treatment of viral diseases. We are advancing novel investigational oral small molecule antiviral agents that have potent activity against difficult to treat or resistant virus strains that threaten human health: COVID-19/Long COVID and bird flu and seasonal influenza. Ratutrelvir is in development as a ritonavir-independent COVID treatment, targeting the Main protease (Mpro or 3CL protease). Tivoxavir marboxil is in development as a single dose treatment for bird flu and seasonal influenza, targeting the influenza cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN).
Traws is actively seeking development and commercialization partners for its legacy clinical oncology programs, rigosertib and narazaciclib. More details can be found on Traws’ website at https://www.ir.trawspharma.com/partnering.
For more information, please visit www.trawspharma.com and follow us on LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve risks and uncertainties including statements regarding the Company, its business and product candidates, including the potential opportunity, market size, benefits, effectiveness, safety, and the clinical and regulatory plans for ratutrelvir and tivoxavir marboxil, as well as plans for its legacy programs, and the expected impact of new leadership appointments. The Company has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “believes”, “estimates”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “plans”, “intends”, “may”, “could”, “might”, “will”, “should”, “preliminary”, “encouraging”, “approximately” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Although Traws believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including the success and timing of Traws’ clinical trials, Traws’ interactions with the FDA, BARDA and similar foreign regulators, collaborations, market conditions, regulatory requirements and pathways for approval, the ongoing need for improved therapy to reduce the frequency of clinical rebound and the concomitant risk for Long COVID, the extent of the spread and threat of the bird flu, Traws’ ability to raise additional capital when needed, and those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Traws’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. Traws undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except to the extent required by law.
Traws Pharma Contact:
Charles Parker
Traws Pharma, Inc.
cparker@trawspharma.com
www.trawspharma.com
Investor Contact:
John Fraunces
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
917-335-2395
jfraunces@lifesciadvisors.com
FAQ
Who joined the Traws Pharma board on October 1, 2025 and what is his background?
What executive appointments did Traws Pharma (TRAW) formalize on October 6, 2025?
How does John Leaman's appointment affect Traws Pharma's governance and strategy?
What is the development status of ratutrelvir at Traws Pharma (TRAW)?
Will ratutrelvir require ritonavir according to Traws Pharma's announcement?
Does the press release report any financial guidance or revenue impact for TRAW?
