Orca Bio Taps Bijan Nejadnik as New Chief Medical Officer

Orca Bio, of Menlo Park, Calif., is welcoming Bijan Nejadnik, MD, as its new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). The company is a late-stage biotech focusing on high-precision cell therapy.

The preceding CMO, J. Scott McClellan, MD, PhD, will become Orca Bio’s newly created Chief Development Officer.

Mission of Orca Bio

Orca Bio concentrates primarily in the treatment areas of blood cancer and autoimmune diseases. Its manufacturing platform helps create proprietary products designed to replace a diseased blood and immune system with a healthy one.

Nejadnik joins Orca Bio from Tanabe Pharma, where he was CMO as well as Head of R&D and Regulatory Affairs. Orca Bio says he has led cross-functional organizations from early-stage biologics to global commercialization. This includes securing approvals from the FDA, European Medicines Agency, and Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency.

Additionally, Nejadnik has served biotechnology companies as board member and/or senior officer, constructing corporate strategy, capital formation, and strategic M&A. Overall, Nejadnik brings biopharmaceutical executive experience and more than two decades spearheading global medical and regulatory strategies.

Chief Development, Medical Officers Intertwine

Meanwhile, as Chief Development Officer, McClellan will lead strategic expansion of Orca’s pipeline, overseeing advancing next-generation programs into the clinic.

Nejadnik expressed eagerness to “ensure our pipeline meets the highest bar of scientific excellence” while building infrastructure broadening patient access. For McClellan’s part, he looks forward to unlocking “full potential of our high-precision platform” in his new role.

In an Orca Bio press release, co-founder and CEO Nate Fernhoff, PhD, also commented on the personnel moves.

“[Nejadnik’s] rare expertise in bridging complex clinical innovation with successful global regulatory outcomes will be instrumental,” Fernhoff said. “We are fortunate to have Dr. McClellan’s leadership and expertise focused on shaping and constructing a [broader] pipeline.”