TORL BioTherapeutics LLC, a clinical stage oncology-focused biotechnology company, has appointed Aran Maree, M.D., as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Member.

Maree succeeds Mark Alles, who will continue to support the company as Chairman of the Board.

“TORL was founded to discover, develop, and commercialize first- and best-in-class cancer therapeutics. Given Aran’s highly successful, multi-decade industry career, and the leadership he has demonstrated throughout his tenure as TORL’s first Chief Medical Officer, the Board and I are confident he has the experience, insight, and passion to continue to guide TORL through and beyond this critical next phase of clinical milestones,” said Mark Alles. “His appointment reflects a carefully planned leadership transition designed to position TORL for growth and operational scale, and I look forward to continuing to work with Aran and the rest of the TORL team to improve patient outcomes.”

Experience

Maree joined TORL in October 2024 as Chief Medical Officer (CMO). In that role, he led the clinical advancement of TORL’s first-in-class Claudin 6 (CLDN6)-targeted antibody drug conjugate (ADC) ixotatug vedotin (Ixo-V; TORL-1-23), accelerating global enrollment in the registrational Phase 2 study,  CATALINA-2, in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC), and expanding Ixo-V clinical development beyond PROC.

In collaboration with TORL’s discovery partners at UCLA, Maree has led TORL’s development of multiple Investigational New Drug applications (INDs) across its differentiated early portfolio. These include TORL’s first hematology asset, which is now in Phase 1, and accelerating IND-enabling work for TORL’s next wave of programs.

“I am honored to step into the CEO role with the support of Mark Alles and the TORL Board as we advance Ixo-V toward its first regulatory filings and build out our early-stage pipeline,” said Maree. “TORL exists to develop antibody-based therapies that meaningfully improve the lives of people with cancer. With our expanding leadership team, we are well-positioned to deliver on our mission.”

Maree’s appointment is part of a broader strategic plan to strengthen TORL’s leadership team and enhance governance as the company progresses toward late-stage development and potential commercialization. A search for TORL’s next CMO is now underway.