Cue Biopharma Welcomes Dr. Daniel Baker As Interim CDO To Lead Development Efforts

Cue Biopharma, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on developing innovative biologics that target and regulate disease-specific T cells for cancer and autoimmune treatment, The company has today announced that Daniel Baker, M.D., will take on the role of interim chief development officer (CDO) starting November 25, 2024. Dr. Anish Suri, currently the company’s president and chief scientific officer (CSO), will transition to Biopharma’s principal research and immunology advisor on the same date.

Daniel Passeri, chief executive officer of Cue Biopharma, said in a statement, “This organisational transition will further enhance the company’s next growth stage with greater focus and capacity for building upon and advancing its pipeline of drug product candidates in oncology and autoimmunity. DDrBaker will bring a significant depth of experience and expertise in registrational strategies for immunotherapeutics to Cue Biopharma; at the same time, Dr Suri will continue to provide the company with his invaluable scientific insight and strategic guidance.”

Dr. Baker brings over 20 years of experience in drug development. From 2000 to 2019, he served as Vice President of Immunology R&D at Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen unit. He oversaw the clinical development of critical therapies like Remicade, Simponi, and Stelara, contributing to over 15 regulatory approvals across the U.S., Europe, and Japan. In 2015, he became Disease Area Stronghold Leader at Janssen, leading Phase II and III development plans for rheumatology products and guiding portfolio strategy for rheumatology and immunology.

Dr. Baker stated, “I am very pleased to be joining Cue Biopharma to further develop its highly promising and innovative Immuno-STAT™ biologics platform, with the potential to address the significant unmet medical needs of cancer and autoimmune patients. I look forward to working closely with the Cue Biopharma management team further to enhance clinical development and registrational strategies and capacities.”

After his retirement from Janssen in 2019, Dr. Baker founded and served as CEO of Kira Therapeutics, later holding the position of Executive Director on the board of Galapagos Therapeutics from April 2022 to October 2024. He earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania, completed his residency at Hershey Medical Center, and pursued a fellowship in Rheumatology and Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a research fellowship in rheumatology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“We are delighted to be working closely with Dr. Baker to help shape and guide our portfolio development strategies. DDrBaker’s proven record as a highly successful and prolific drug developer in the field of immunology will augment and bolster our mission to bring novel and effective immunotherapies to patients in need,” commented Dr. Matteo Levisetti, chief medical officer of Cue Biopharma.