Press Detail

Dr. Rob Schott Joins Nutcracker Therapeutics as Chief Medical Officer 

9-12-2022

  • Dr. Schott will oversee the advancement of Nutcracker Therapeutics’ oncology pipeline, helping to expand the company’s novel RNA therapeutics platform 
  • The announcement follows several recent C-suite hires, adding significant pharmaceutical industry and drug development experience to Nutcracker Therapeutics’ executive team

EMERYVILLE, Calif. — Nutcracker Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to developing transformative RNA therapies through its proprietary technology platform, today appointed Rob Schott, M.D., M.P.H, F.A.C.C., as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Schott joins Nutcracker Therapeutics ahead of planned major clinical milestones for its lead program, NTX-0250, and will guide the clinical advancement of the company’s oncology pipeline. 

“Rob’s extensive background, which includes driving successful clinical development programs within the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, gives us full confidence in his ability to oversee the continuous evolution of our pipeline,” said Igor Khandros, Ph.D., cofounder and Chief Executive Officer of Nutcracker Therapeutics. “The biological versatility of RNA equips Nutcracker Therapeutics with the tools to reimagine the treatment landscape of oncology, and beyond,” explained Khandros. “Dr. Schott’s robust track record adds a new dimension of invaluable industry know-how to a team of talented individuals working to bring transformative RNA therapies to patients.”

Dr. Schott comes to Nutcracker Therapeutics from Sangamo Therapeutics, where he held the position of Senior Vice President and Head of Development, spearheading clinical strategy across numerous programs. Prior to Sangamo, Dr. Schott served as Chief Medical Officer at Chorus, an operationally independent subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, focused on expanding the latter’s pipeline via early-phase candidate selection and discovery. While at Chorus, Dr. Schott led the implementation of innovative processes designed to achieve clinical proof-of-concept more efficiently for early-stage drug candidates. 

Dr. Schott’s earlier career as a practicing cardiologist led to his role at Sacramento’s Sutter Medical Center as Cardiovascular Department Chair and Vice President of Medical Affairs. He attended the University of Michigan, where he earned his undergraduate and medical degrees. He then worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard Medical School before training in cardiovascular medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. 

“I see RNA as a drug modality with enormous potential, so I immediately connected with Nutcracker Therapeutics’ distinct methodology of RNA drug development,” commented Dr. Schott. “The unique ability of the company’s technology platform to rapidly design and interrogate RNA molecules will be key to realizing the therapeutic potential of this drug class within oncology and beyond. I look to utilize my clinical expertise to advance Nutcracker Therapeutics’ pipeline and contribute to a culture built on dedication to improving patient lives.”

Dr. Schott’s appointment arrives on the heels of several other recent additions, bolstering a tested leadership core, including John Stubenrauch, Ph.D., as Chief Operating Officer, who had served as Vice President of Biologics Commercial Operations at Gilead Sciences. Drs. Schott and Stubenrauch join the company after the unveiling of Nutcracker Therapeutics’ oncology pipeline in June, comprising three mRNA candidates targeting HPV-driven tumors, T-cell lymphoma, and genitourinary tumors.

About Nutcracker Therapeutics, Inc.

Nutcracker Therapeutics, Inc. is an RNA therapeutics company that has combined the power of advanced engineering with high-precision biosynthesis to deploy a complete RNA platform that encompasses the design, delivery, and manufacturing of RNA medicines. Armed with this high-tech advantage, the company has initiated multiple therapeutic programs with the support of clinical investigators at leading institutions. Nutcracker Therapeutics’ technology platform has the potential to significantly reduce costs and cycle times for RNA therapeutic development, with dramatic advantages in speed and capacity scaling over other RNA manufacturing approaches.

For more information, visit www.nutcrackerx.com.  

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