VERAXA Biotech (NASDAQ: VRXA), a developer of next-generation antibody-based cancer therapies, has announced the appointment of Raju Willener as chief financial officer, effective immediately. Willener, who brings over three decades of international financial leadership experience, will report to CEO and Co-Founder Christoph Antz, Ph.D., and is expected to play a pivotal role in supporting the company's capital strategy and strategic opportunities.
Willener's extensive background spans global capital markets, investment banking, corporate finance, asset management, and strategic leadership. Prior to joining VERAXA, he served as director of corporate development at Exentis Group AG before being appointed CFO in 2025. At Exentis, he led M&A initiatives, financial strategy, and key corporate functions. Earlier in his career, he held senior executive and investment positions overseeing areas including corporate finance, capital markets, investor relations, and investment portfolios exceeding CHF 30 billion in assets under management.
This appointment comes at a critical time for VERAXA as it continues to develop its proprietary BiTAC(R) technology platform and oncology pipeline. The company is focused on building a premier engine for the discovery and development of next-generation antibody-based therapeutics, including bispecific T cell engagers, bispecific ADCs, and other innovative formats. VERAXA was founded on scientific breakthroughs made at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), a world-renowned institution known for pioneering life science research.
The addition of Willener is likely to bolster VERAXA's financial leadership as it navigates the complexities of advancing its pipeline into clinical development and beyond. His experience in capital markets and corporate finance could be instrumental in securing funding and forging strategic partnerships that are essential for biotech companies at this stage.
Investors and industry observers will be watching closely to see how Willener's leadership influences VERAXA's capital strategy and its ability to bring innovative cancer therapies to market. The company's forward-looking statements indicate a commitment to ongoing development, with risks and uncertainties inherent in such endeavors. For more information on VERAXA and its pipeline, visit the company's newsroom at https://ibn.fm/VRXA.
