Pyxis Oncology announced that Thomas Civik, a long‑time board member and former CEO of Five Prime Therapeutics, will serve as interim Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. Civik’s appointment follows the resignation of former CEO and President Lara S. Sullivan, who stepped down from all executive roles.
Civik joined Pyxis’s board in September 2021 and has overseen the company’s strategic direction since its initial public offering. Prior to joining Pyxis, he led Five Prime Therapeutics through its acquisition by Amgen for $1.9 billion in April 2021, a transaction that underscored his experience in scaling oncology programs and navigating complex M&A processes.
The company’s board has initiated a search for a permanent CEO, and Civik’s interim role is intended to provide continuity while the search proceeds. During his tenure, the clinical development team will maintain momentum on the lead antibody‑drug conjugate, micvotabart pelidotin (MICVO), which is advancing through Phase 1 monotherapy and Phase 1/2 combination studies with pembrolizumab.
Pyxis remains focused on its ADC platform and has recently received Fast Track designation from the FDA for MICVO in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The company’s recent restructuring in March 2025, which reduced its workforce by approximately 20 percent, was aimed at concentrating resources on the MICVO program.
John Flavin, chairman of the board, emphasized that Civik’s appointment “ensures strong leadership and continuity” and thanked Sullivan for her “commitment and contributions” during her six‑year tenure.
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