CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cue Biopharma, Inc., an immunotherapy company developing biologics engineered to selectively modulate disease-relevant T cell subsets to treat cancer and autoimmune disease, today announced that Kenneth Pienta, M.D., will serve as acting Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Pienta is currently a member of Cue Biopharma’s scientific and clinical advisory board (SAB/CAB) and as acting CMO will be responsible for overseeing translational medicine work and directing development of the company’s clinical programs, including its lead drug candidate, Cue-101, which targets human papillomavirus (HPV) associated cancers.

“Since joining our scientific and clinical advisory board, Ken has become an integral part of our team and will be a tremendous asset as acting CMO,” said Daniel Passeri, M.Sc., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Cue Biopharma. “We are pleased to have a leading oncologist of Ken’s caliber join our team. With Ken’s leadership in translational medicine and clinical development we are well poised as we bring our innovative immunotherapies into the clinic.”

Dr. Pienta is a highly respected leader in the understanding of cancer metastases and the role of the tumor microenvironment in cancer development and immunosuppression. He is the Donald S. Coffey Professor of Urology, as well as a Professor of Oncology, Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Currently, Dr. Pienta is the Director of Research at the Brady Urological Institute and also serves as the co-Director of the Johns Hopkins Individualized Health Initiative (Hopkins inHealth) to better define the practice of precision medicine. He has been the principle investigator on numerous local and national clinical trials and has a proven track record in developing multi-disciplinary translational research programs, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Dr. Pienta is the author of more than 350 peer-reviewed articles, and is a two-time American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor Award recipient. Dr. Pienta received a B.A. in human biology from Johns Hopkins University and an M.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and is board certified in oncology.

About Cue Biopharma

Immune Responses, On Cue. Cue Biopharma™ is an immunotherapy company developing biologics engineered to selectively communicate with disease-relevant T cell subsets to treat cancer and autoimmune disease. CUE (Conditional, Unique Engagement) biologics have the potential to be highly effective as monotherapies as well as synergistic with existing checkpoint inhibitors, while reducing collateral toxicities often seen with less selective immunotherapies. Through this platform approach, Cue Biopharma has developed a promising pipeline with its lead candidate currently approaching the clinic. Headquartered in Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA, the Company is led by a strong, experienced management team and scientific and clinical advisory board with deep expertise in the design and clinical development of protein biologics, immunology and immuno-oncology.

For more information, visit www.cuebio.com.