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 brings more than three decades of international financial leadership experience, including roles in global capital markets, investment banking, corporate finance, asset management, and strategic leadership. He will report to CEO and Co-Founder Christoph Antz, Ph.D., and is expected to play a key role in supporting the company's capital strategy, strategic opportunities, and continued development of its proprietary BiTAC(R) technology platform and oncology pipeline.
The appointment comes as VERAXA continues to advance its pipeline of bispecific T cell engagers, bispecific ADCs, and other innovative antibody formats. Willener's extensive background in finance and corporate development is likely to be instrumental in navigating the capital markets and securing the resources needed to bring these therapies to clinical development. Prior to joining VERAXA, Willener served as director of corporate development at Exentis Group AG before being appointed CFO in 2025, where he led M&A initiatives, financial strategy, and key corporate functions. Earlier in his career, he held senior executive and investment positions overseeing corporate finance, capital markets, investor relations, and investment portfolios exceeding CHF 30 billion in assets under management.
"We are delighted to welcome Raju to VERAXA," said Christoph Antz, CEO and Co-Founder. "His deep financial expertise and proven track record in corporate development will be invaluable as we advance our BiTAC platform and oncology pipeline toward clinical milestones. Raju's leadership will help us optimize our capital structure and pursue strategic opportunities to maximize shareholder value."
Willener's appointment is effective immediately, and he is expected to contribute to VERAXA's strategic planning and fundraising efforts. The company is focused on leveraging its proprietary technologies to develop next-generation antibody-based therapeutics for cancer treatment. VERAXA was founded on scientific breakthroughs made at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), a world-renowned institution known for pioneering life science research and cutting-edge technology.
For more information on VERAXA and its pipeline, visit the company's newsroom at https://ibn.fm/VRXA. The full press release is available at https://nnw.fm/jcHOU.
This appointment underscores VERAXA's commitment to strengthening its financial and strategic foundation as it aims to bring innovative cancer therapies to patients. With Willener's leadership, the company is well-positioned to navigate the complexities of drug development and capital markets, potentially accelerating the path to clinical trials and, ultimately, patient access.
