Healthcare executive John Chiplin joins Sienna Cancer Diagnostics

Melbourne-based biotech company Sienna Cancer Diagnostics has announced the appointment of Dr John Chiplin to its board of directors.

An experienced healthcare executive, Dr Chiplin will bring considerable capital markets experience to the Sienna board. He is already a non-executive director of biotechnology companies Benitec Biopharma, Cynata Therapeutics and Adalta, and was recently appointed chairman of Scancell Holdings. He is also the founder and managing director of Newstar Ventures, an early-stage investment fund.

He was formerly the CEO of Polynoma, a US-based cancer immunotherapy company, and was the founding CEO of Arana Therapeutics. Before his appointment at Arana, Dr Chiplin was head of the UK’s $300m ITI Life Science investment fund.

“We are delighted to have John join the Sienna board as the company transitions towards further commercial growth and market expansion,” said Sienna Chairman Dr Geoff Cumming. “John’s capital markets experience will greatly assist in the company’s future capital-raising activities and potential listing aspirations.”

Sienna Cancer Diagnostics also recently reported it has received a $682,921 R&D Tax Incentive refund for the 2015 financial year. The funds will help support the completion and launch of Sienna’s in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) product, which will further expand the company’s available market opportunity.

“The receipt of the R&D tax incentive provides important funding to Sienna’s development programs,” said Sienna CFO Tony Di Pietro. “This government initiative is an invaluable source of non-dilutive funds for small, innovative Australian companies like Sienna, helping them to launch products into the global marketplace.”