Phoenix Molecular Designs Welcomes Leena Das-Young, Pharm.D. and Steve Potts, Ph.D., MBA to its Board of Directors

SAN DIEGO, California - VANCOUVER, British Columbia, September 6, 2023 - Phoenix Molecular Designs (PhoenixMD), a leading clinical-stage therapeutics company specializing in first-in-class RSK kinase inhibitors for cancer treatment, is proud to announce the addition of Leena Das-Young, Pharm.D. and Steve Potts, Ph.D., MBA to its board of directors. This strategic announcement underscores the company’s commitment to leveraging diverse expertise and insights in its development of Phase 2 clinical trials.

“We are delighted to bring Leena and Steve on board,” said Sandi Dunn, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Phoenix Molecular Designs. "Their profound expertise and strategic insight will be invaluable as we develop our research and operational trajectory. Our ultimate aim remains steadfast: enhancing the quality of life for cancer patients through targeted RSK kinase inhibitor therapies.”

PMD-026, one of the company's leading compounds, has shown significant efficacy in treating breast cancer, especially those resistant to CDK4/6 inhibitors as well as triple- negative breast cancers (TNBC). Its potential also spans across a variety of solid tumors and hematological malignancies.

Joining the board, Leena Das-Young said, "It's a privilege to align with Phoenix Molecular Designs, a company at the forefront of oncology innovation. I am thrilled to be joining this impressive Board of Directors. Sandi's drive to pioneer a new precision target for breast cancer is laudable. I look forward to sharing my experience to support the company's mission to advance novel cancer treatments."

Steve Potts added, "PhoenixMD's focus on precision oncology, especially around RSK kinase inhibitors, resonates deeply with my professional experience. Together, I believe our collaborative efforts will result in significant milestones, particularly as we approach Phase 2 clinical trials."

The addition of Leena Das-Young and Steve Potts to Phoenix Molecular Designs' board heralds an exciting phase for the company, reinforcing its commitment to innovative cancer treatments.

About Leena Das-Young

This strategic announcement underscores the company’s commitment to leveraging diverse expertise and insights in its development of Phase 2 clinical trials. Leena Das-Young is a seasoned executive in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. She currently serves as the CEO of an emerging stealth biotechnology company dedicated to precision immuno-oncology. In parallel, Leena is the Managing Partner at Emerald Bioventures, where her focus lies in fostering innovation within oncology, immunology, and women’s health. She also presides over RaniBio, a consultancy recognized for its contributions to biotech and health tech companies. Prior to her current roles, Leena served as the General Manager of the Early Cancer Detection unit at Guardant Health. Her extensive tenure at Pfizer Oncology, spanning 15 years, is particularly noteworthy. As the Vice President and Head of the Late Phase Development Group, she was entrusted with a vast portfolio, encompassing 13 distinct assets and oversight of more than 300 clinical trials. Under her leadership, Pfizer realized the successful development and subsequent approval of several new cancer medicines, including Ibrance, Xalkori, Lorbrena, Sutent, Mylotarg, and Talzenna, among others. Furthermore, she played a pivotal role in attaining six breakthrough therapy designations (BTDs) and establishing two novel surrogate clinical endpoints in RCC and AML, further cementing Pfizer's reputation in innovative cancer drug development.

Her commercial acumen has been demonstrated through significant roles both at Pfizer and Bayer. Leena oversaw the market launch of Sutent, propelling it to exceed $1B in sales. Equally impressive was her strategic redirection of Cipro oral, which saw its revenue surge from $600m to approximately $1B.

Leena’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from Purdue University.

About Steve Potts

For more than 25 years, Steve has been an influential figure in oncology, demonstrating expertise in diverse areas from medical affairs and product development to sales, marketing, and general management.

In 2018, Steve founded OncoMyx, an immunotherapy company that stands out for its multiple therapeutic arming approach. Under his leadership, OncoMyx secured $75M in venture funding. Before this endeavor, Steve served as the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Ignyta, a company later acquired by Roche/Genentech for a substantial $1.7B. At Ignyta, he orchestrated the expansive testing of entrectinib in an oncology basket trial that spanned 15 countries and involved molecular testing over 20,000 patients. The ROS1 & TRK kinase inhibitor, under Roche's banner, achieved industry-firsts: breakthrough designations in the USA, Europe, and Japan, and concurrent global registrational trials for both adults and children.

Steve's entrepreneurial aptitude was also evident when he bootstrapped Flagship Bio. As its founding CEO, he grew the company to 75 employees and secured a strong financial return upon its exit. The company's innovative platform in digital pathology image analysis played a pivotal supportive role in the approval of a pioneering gene therapy drug for muscular dystrophy. Steve's leadership also shone at Aperio, which was acquired by Danaher for $180M. There, he and his team revolutionized the industry by standardizing

the use of digital pathology in trials, guiding pharmaceutical companies, and achieving 510k approvals for three separate companies' image analysis IHC FDA 510k medical device clearances. Before Aperio, Steve established the Bioinformatics Department at Quest Diagnostics, now the premier clinical diagnostics testing laboratory in the U.S.

Steve holds a Ph.D. in Biological Engineering and an MBA from the University of California Davis, accompanied by a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Wheaton College, Illinois. He's contributed to over 30 publications and is the lead author of Molecular Histopathology and Image Analysis in Drug Development.

About Phoenix Molecular Designs

PhoenixMD is a privately held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company designing precise cancer therapeutics and companion diagnostics by targeting kinases, a class of highly druggable enzymes to treat a wide range of oncology indications. PhoenixMD is focused on developing first-in-class inhibitors against RSK, an important drug target for cancer, heart disease, and inflammation. The company's leadership team boasts previous expertise in developing FDA-approved and marketed drugs for breast cancer. Due to PhoenixMD's emerging leadership in kinase inhibition, the company has partnered with well-recognized government and academic research institutions, including the National Cancer Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Kyushu University (Japan) and the University of Tuebingen (Germany). PhoenixMD has clinical headquarters in San Diego, CA, and preclinical operations in Vancouver, BC. For more information, visit phoenixmd.ca.