Adecto Pharmaceuticals names co-founder Dr. Nora Mineva as Chief Executive Officer

BOSTON, Mass. (March 1, 2023) - Adecto Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company pioneering targeted therapies for aggressive cancers, today announced the appointment of Nora Mineva, Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Mineva, a co-founder of the company, accepts the baton from longtime collaborator and fellow co-founder Dr. Gail Sonenshein, marking a seamless leadership transition after more than a decade of shared discovery and research vision.

Dr. Mineva has been instrumental to Adecto’s scientific and operational trajectory since its inception. Serving as Chief Science Officer (CSO) since 2014, she led the foundational research and development of the company’s lead therapeutic candidates - monoclonal antibodies targeting the ADAM8 protein. Under her decade-long tenure as CSO, Adecto successfully secured critical intellectual property, hit key pre-clinical milestones, and established a robust companion diagnostic assay.

"Nora’s transition to CEO is a natural and exciting evolution for Adecto," said Dr. Gail Sonenshein, co-founder and Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. "Her deep scientific expertise, combined with her intimate knowledge of the ADAM8 pathway, makes her the ideal leader to transition our discoveries from the laboratory into life-saving clinical applications for patients with aggressive cancers."

During her time as CSO, Dr. Mineva was a primary architect of the research demonstrating how inhibiting ADAM8 can suppress tumor growth and prevent the spread of cancer cells. 

"I am honored to lead Adecto at such a transformative moment," said Dr. Nora Mineva. "Having spent the last twelve years refining our understanding of ADAM8-positive cancers, I am more committed than ever to moving our monoclonal antibodies into the clinic. Our goal remains clear: to provide a targeted solution for patients facing the most aggressive forms of cancer."

Dr. Mineva holds a Ph.D. in Pathology from Boston University School of Medicine. She is a graduate of the NIH I-Corps Business Training Program and the MassConnect Entrepreneur Mentorship Program.

About Adecto Pharmaceuticals
Adecto Pharmaceuticals is a biotechnology company focused on the development of novel therapeutics and diagnostics for ADAM8-positive solid tumors. Founded in 2014, the company is dedicated to halting cancer metastasis and improving outcomes for patients with limited treatment options