SOTIO Biotech, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company owned by PPF Group, announced two key executive appointments aimed at accelerating the development of its growing pipeline of novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and immunotherapies designed to treat difficult-to-manage solid tumors.
The company has appointed Amy Jensen-Smith, Ph.D., as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), and Ulrich Moebius, Ph.D., as Chief Development Officer (CDO). Together, the two seasoned leaders bring extensive experience across discovery research, translational science, and clinical development—expertise that will be vital to SOTIO’s continued advancement in the competitive oncology landscape.
Driving the Next Phase of SOTIO’s Growth
“We are fortunate to have such exceptional scientific talent within SOTIO to lead the continued progress and expansion of our portfolio of next-generation ADCs and immunotherapies,” said Radek Spisek, Chief Executive Officer of SOTIO. “Amy’s proven record of scientific excellence and innovation as vice president has been instrumental in advancing our pipeline and guiding our scientific strategy. Ulrich has long been at the center of our development strategy, and his leadership of our preclinical organization makes him uniquely qualified to serve as Chief Development Officer. Their deep history with SOTIO and many accomplishments across discovery, development, and execution give me full confidence that they will continue to drive our mission forward and deliver meaningful impact for patients.”
These leadership appointments come as SOTIO continues to make significant progress across its ADC and immunotherapy platforms. The company’s research efforts focus on developing differentiated oncology treatments that combine targeted delivery mechanisms with immune modulation to improve outcomes for patients with solid tumors that remain resistant to conventional therapies.
Amy Jensen-Smith, Ph.D. — From Discovery Leader to Chief Scientific Officer
Dr. Amy Jensen-Smith, previously Vice President of SOTIO US and Head of Discovery, has played a central role in defining SOTIO’s scientific strategy since joining the company in 2020. Under her leadership, the company has successfully advanced multiple programs from conceptualization through candidate selection, strengthened its IP portfolio through new patent filings, and built a discovery engine centered around ADC innovation.
She was instrumental in developing SOTIO’s lead preclinical ADC candidates, SOT106 and SOT109, both of which have shown strong efficacy and safety profiles in preclinical studies targeting mesenchymal tumors and colorectal cancer, respectively. These programs exemplify the company’s approach of combining cutting-edge ADC technology with precise tumor targeting.
Dr. Jensen-Smith also played a key role in expanding SOTIO’s BOXR platform, an innovative technology designed to enhance the function and persistence of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Her contributions have helped establish SOTIO as an emerging player in next-generation immuno-oncology.
As CSO, Dr. Jensen-Smith will oversee all global discovery and preclinical research efforts. Her focus will be on expanding SOTIO’s ADC pipeline, identifying novel tumor-associated targets, and fostering collaborations that strengthen the company’s scientific foundation.
“Amy’s leadership has been transformative for SOTIO’s scientific direction,” said Spisek. “Her ability to blend rigorous science with a clear strategic vision has been critical to our success in advancing new oncology modalities.”
Prior to joining SOTIO, Dr. Jensen-Smith held senior positions at bluebird bio, where she advanced several novel CAR and TCR T-cell therapy programs and managed key external collaborations in cellular immunotherapy.
She earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and her Ph.D. in Physiology from Dartmouth College. Following her doctoral studies, she completed postdoctoral training at the National Cancer Institute and was a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research (NIBR), where she deepened her expertise in tumor immunology and translational oncology.
Ulrich Moebius, Ph.D. — Guiding Translational and Development Strategy
Dr. Ulrich Moebius, who assumes the role of Chief Development Officer, brings more than 25 years of experience in drug development, spanning early research, preclinical programs, and clinical transitions. He has been with SOTIO since 2017, previously serving as Chief of Preclinical Development, where he led IND-enabling studies and oversaw nonclinical development across multiple therapeutic platforms.
During his tenure, Dr. Moebius played an integral role in shaping SOTIO’s translational development strategy, ensuring that scientific innovation was effectively and efficiently transitioned from the lab to clinical validation. His expertise in managing complex R&D programs and cross-functional teams has been pivotal in driving several of SOTIO’s pipeline assets toward first-in-human studies.
Before joining SOTIO, Dr. Moebius held leadership positions at MediGene, MorphoSys, and Pieris Pharmaceuticals, where he directed nonclinical development and R&D strategy for oncology and autoimmune programs. Throughout his career, he has overseen the successful progression of multiple biologics and cell vaccine candidates into the clinic, contributing to the growth of several biotech organizations focused on immune-oncology and targeted therapies.
Dr. Moebius earned his Ph.D. in Immunology from the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz. He also conducted more than a decade of academic research at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, focusing on immune cell biology, tumor immunology, and translational approaches for cancer treatment.
Advancing the Mission of Transforming Cancer Care
The appointments of Dr. Jensen-Smith and Dr. Moebius mark an important step in SOTIO’s continued evolution as a global oncology innovator. With its integrated discovery-to-development model and growing expertise in ADCs and immunotherapies, SOTIO is strategically positioned to accelerate the delivery of breakthrough treatments for patients facing aggressive, treatment-resistant cancers.
Both leaders bring a shared vision of advancing bold science with clinical purpose—a reflection of SOTIO’s mission to translate cutting-edge biology into meaningful patient outcomes.
