Agenus Inc., an immune-oncology company, has appointed José Iglesias, M.D. as Chief Medical Affairs Officer.

Iglesias will lead global medical affairs for botensilimab (BOT) and balstilimab (BAL) as the combination advances through Phase 3 evaluation and becomes available in selected countries through early-access mechanisms, including France’s Autorisation d’Accès Compassionnel (AAC) program.

BOT is an Fc-enhanced multifunctional CTLA-4 antibody and BAL is a PD-1 antibody. In combination, BOT/BAL is being investigated in patients with microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (MSS CRC), a population that has historically derived limited benefit from immunotherapy despite substantial unmet medical need.

Experience

Iglesias brings over 30 years of global oncology and immuno-oncology drug development experience. Previously, at Abraxis BioScience and Celgene, he led late-stage development and life-cycle management of Abraxane in pancreatic, lung, and metastatic breast cancers, supporting its integration into routine practice across these tumor types. Most recently, he served in senior medical leadership roles at Bionomics, Biothera, and Apobiologix, where he directed global oncology programs across biologics, small molecules, and immunotherapies.

In his new role, Iglesias will oversee global medical affairs strategy for BOT/BAL, including medical evidence generation, communications, and scientific exchange with clinicians, investigators, and health authorities. He will also guide appropriate use of BOT/BAL within regulatory and early-access frameworks worldwide with a focus on robust data collection and real-world evidence.

“Throughout my career, I have focused on building the clinical and real-world evidence needed to bring new oncology treatments, including Abraxane, into standard practice,” Iglesias remarked. “BOT/BAL is being studied in patients with MSS colorectal cancer, a group for whom current options remain limited. My priority is to build a medical affairs organization that collaborates closely with investigators and treating physicians, supports high-quality evidence generation, and ensures that early-access frameworks such as AAC in France and named-patient programs in other countries are used appropriately and responsibly for eligible patients.”

Iglesias has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications and is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), and the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO). He earned his medical degree in Uruguay, completed a post-doctoral fellowship from the University of Toronto as well as fellowships at the Weizmann Institute of Science and Duke University. Iglesias began his career in oncology and hematology practice before transitioning to the biopharmaceutical industry.