Orum Therapeutics, a public biotechnology company pioneering the development of degrader–antibody conjugates (DACs), has announced the appointment of Dorin Toader, Ph.D., as Head of Platform Technology. With over 27 years of experience in drug discovery and more than 15 years specializing in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), Dr. Toader will play a key role in driving the company’s next phase of scientific and technological advancement.
In his new role, Dr. Toader will be responsible for defining and executing Orum’s platform technology strategy, overseeing initiatives across chemistry, antibody engineering, and payload innovation. He will lead efforts to enhance Orum’s expertise in linker–payload strategies, conjugation technologies, structural biology, and computational modeling, strengthening the foundation of Orum’s Dual-Precision Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD²®) approach. This strategy aims to expand the therapeutic reach of Orum’s proprietary DAC payload platforms across a range of diseases, particularly in oncology.
Building on Orum’s Leadership in Targeted Protein Degradation
Orum Therapeutics is recognized as a leader in the emerging field of targeted protein degradation, integrating antibody precision with degrader technology to design next-generation therapies. The company’s Dual-Precision TPD²® approach unites the selectivity of antibody targeting with the ability of degraders to eliminate disease-causing proteins, enabling the creation of novel medicines that traditional drug modalities cannot achieve.
Commenting on the appointment, Sung Joo (SJ) Lee, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Orum Therapeutics, said:
“Dorin’s career reflects a proven ability to translate bold science into clinical innovation. His leadership in payload and linker design, combined with Orum’s strengths in structure-based drug design and computational modeling, will accelerate our mission to deliver first-in-class degrader–antibody conjugates. Together, we are well positioned to build a new generation of targeted therapeutics with the potential to transform treatment options for patients facing cancer and other serious diseases.”
Dr. Toader’s Vision for Expanding Orum’s Platform
Dr. Toader expressed enthusiasm about joining Orum during a pivotal phase of growth and innovation:
“The field of protein degradation is at a transformative point, and Orum is clearly at the forefront with its Dual-Precision Targeted Protein Degradation approach. I was inspired by Orum’s vision to unite the precision of antibody delivery with the power of targeted degradation, leveraging advanced computational and structure-based design. I look forward to applying my experience in payload chemistry and bioconjugation to expand the DAC platforms and help bring these next-generation medicines to patients.”
Dr. Toader’s expertise spans payload and linker chemistry, antibody conjugation, and computational design, areas that are central to Orum’s pipeline and discovery programs. His leadership will further enhance the company’s integrated approach, which combines artificial intelligence (AI), physics-based modeling, and structure-guided drug design to streamline degrader development and accelerate clinical translation.
A Proven Track Record in ADC and Oncology Innovation
Before joining Orum, Dr. Toader served as Vice President of Chemistry and Bioconjugation at Mersana Therapeutics, where he led teams responsible for advancing novel payload technologies and pipeline programs. Under his leadership, Mersana delivered several innovative ADC platforms and developed the first STING agonist ADC candidate to enter clinical trials.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Toader held research and leadership positions at MedImmune, AstraZeneca, and Zeneca Pharmaceuticals, where he contributed to the discovery and advancement of multiple first-in-class oncology drug candidates and investigational new drug (IND) submissions. Over his distinguished career, he has built and led cross-functional teams in medicinal chemistry and biologics R&D, authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications, and is a named inventor on six granted patents.
Advancing the Next Generation of Degrader–Antibody Conjugates
With Dr. Toader’s appointment, Orum is reinforcing its commitment to advancing DACs as a new therapeutic class. By combining AI-driven molecular design, antibody engineering, and precision protein degradation, Orum’s platforms aim to deliver drugs that address diseases previously considered undruggable.
The company’s strategic focus remains on expanding its TPD²® therapeutic applications, which leverage two layers of precision — antibody targeting for tissue selectivity and degrader specificity for disease-causing proteins. This approach has the potential to yield safer, more effective treatments for patients with hard-to-treat cancers and other complex diseases.
As Orum continues to expand its scientific and technological capabilities, the addition of Dr. Toader marks a significant step toward scaling its platforms and delivering on its mission to redefine precision medicine through protein degradation science.
