Adagene Strengthens Leadership With Appointment Of Immuno-Oncology Pioneer Dr. Axel Hoos As Executive Advisor

Adagene Inc., a company focused on transforming the discovery and development of antibody-based therapies, has announced the appointment of Dr. Axel Hoos as Executive Advisor. Dr. Hoos brings extensive leadership and scientific expertise to Adagene, shaped by a distinguished career in oncology and immunotherapy. From 2021 to 2024, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Scorpion Therapeutics, which was acquired by Eli Lilly in 2025 in a transaction valued at up to $2.5 billion. Before that, he held the role of Senior Vice President and Head of the Oncology Therapeutic Area at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), where he played a central role in rebuilding the company’s oncology business following its divestiture to Novartis in 2015.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Hoos was Global Medical Lead in Immunology/Oncology at Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS). During his tenure, he and his team were instrumental in the development of YERVOY® (ipilimumab), the first immune checkpoint inhibitor, a breakthrough that laid the foundation for modern immuno-oncology. He is also credited with coining the term “Immuno-Oncology,” which has since become the defining field for therapies that harness the immune system to fight cancer.

Dr. Hoos stated, “Adagene is advancing the field of Immuno-Oncology with its pipeline of innovative antibodies centered around CTLA-4, a master-regulator of T-cell responses. This includes ADG116 to differentially engage CTLA-4 for greater T-reg depletion, and ADG126 to mask the CTLA-4 binder (ADG116) until it reaches the tumor microenvironment aiming for an enhanced efficacy and reduced toxicity profile. The design of these antibodies may allow a broader utility of CTLA-4 targeting in cancer immunotherapy.”

He also stated, “CTLA-4 is a proven but notoriously difficult target. Most next-generation programs have not been able to overcome the narrow therapeutic window thus requiring novel designs. With Adagene’s programs the benefit/risk ratio of CTLA-4 targeting may favorably shift and allow treatment of new populations such as cold tumors like MSS CRC, where current immunotherapies have little to no effect.”

Peter Luo, CEO of Adagene, mentioned, 

“Dr. Hoos is an icon in immuno-oncology—both as the creator of the term and a driving force behind the clinical development of YERVOY® (Ipilimumab), the first FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitor. We’re honored to welcome him to our outstanding team of Executive Advisors. His leadership comes at a pivotal moment, as we advance ADG126 through a key turning point in clinical development and continue to expand our SAFEbody™ pipeline powered by our innovative masking technology platform. We look forward to his invaluable guidance in clinical development of anti-CTLA-4 therapy as we work to redefine the future of precision immunotherapy.”

Dr. Hoos holds both an M.D. in Medicine from Heidelberg University and a Ph.D. in Molecular Oncology from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). His clinical training includes general surgery at the Technical University of Munich and a fellowship in cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In addition, he is an alumnus of the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard Business School. This appointment reflects Adagene’s commitment to advancing its pipeline of antibody-based therapies under the guidance of seasoned leaders in oncology and immunotherapy.