Corrixr Therapeutics Appoints Nancy Whiting as Board Chair to Support Advancement of CXR101 Toward Clinical Development
Corrixr Therapeutics, a preclinical genetic medicine company developing innovative therapies for squamous cell cancers, has announced the appointment of Nancy Whiting, PharmD, as Chair of its Board of Directors. She succeeds Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, who is transitioning from the role following her decision to retire as President and Chief Executive Officer of ChristianaCare, effective September 1, 2026.
The leadership transition comes at an important stage in Corrixr’s growth as the company prepares to advance its lead investigational therapy, CXR101, toward an Investigational New Drug (IND) application and first-in-human clinical studies. While stepping down as board chair, Dr. Nevin will remain an active member of Corrixr’s Board of Directors, ensuring continuity as the company enters its next phase of development.
Corrixr also confirmed that Jenn Schwartz, who will succeed Dr. Nevin as President and CEO of ChristianaCare, will continue serving on the company’s board. ChristianaCare remains Corrixr’s founding institutional investor and strategic partner, maintaining a significant role in the company’s scientific and organizational development.
Leadership Transition Marks a New Chapter
The appointment of Dr. Whiting reflects Corrixr’s strategy of strengthening its leadership team with executives who possess extensive experience guiding oncology programs from early research through regulatory approval and commercialization.
As Corrixr prepares to transition from preclinical development into clinical testing, board leadership with deep expertise in oncology drug development is expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping the company’s strategic direction.
The company believes Dr. Whiting’s extensive background across pharmaceutical development, clinical research, and corporate strategy positions her well to help oversee this important transition.
Extensive Experience in Oncology Drug Development
Dr. Whiting brings decades of leadership experience across biotechnology and pharmaceutical development.
For the past five years, she has served as Chief Executive Officer of Recludix Pharma, where she has helped guide the company’s research, clinical development strategy, and organizational growth.
Before joining Recludix, Dr. Whiting spent more than 15 years at Seagen, one of the biotechnology industry’s leading oncology companies.
During her tenure at Seagen, she held several senior executive leadership positions, including:
- Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy
- Executive Vice President of Clinical Development
In these roles, she contributed to multiple stages of oncology drug development, helping advance innovative cancer therapies through clinical evaluation while supporting strategic planning and commercial development.
Her experience spans the full continuum of therapeutic development—from early research and clinical trial design to regulatory strategy and commercialization.
This background aligns closely with Corrixr’s current priorities as it prepares to bring its first investigational therapy into clinical testing.
Company Advances Toward the Clinic
Dr. Whiting assumes the role of board chair during a particularly significant period for Corrixr.
The company is preparing to advance CXR101, its lead genetic medicine candidate, toward an Investigational New Drug (IND) filing and subsequent first-in-human proof-of-mechanism clinical studies.
Transitioning from laboratory research into clinical development represents one of the most important milestones for any biotechnology company.
It requires careful planning across multiple areas, including:
- Regulatory strategy
- Clinical trial design
- Manufacturing
- Safety evaluation
- Operational execution
- Long-term development planning
Corrixr believes its strengthened leadership team will help guide these activities as development progresses.
Recognition of Janice Nevin’s Leadership
Dr. Janice Nevin has played a central role in Corrixr’s development since the company’s earliest stages.
As President and CEO of ChristianaCare, she helped support the company’s formation through ChristianaCare’s role as founding institutional investor and strategic partner.
During her tenure as Board Chair, Corrixr evolved from technology originating within the Gene Editing Institute into an independent biotechnology company advancing a novel therapeutic platform for difficult-to-treat cancers.
Reflecting on the transition, Dr. Nevin stated that Dr. Whiting brings precisely the combination of oncology development and commercial expertise needed as Corrixr moves closer to initiating clinical studies.
She also described it as an honor to have chaired Corrixr’s board while helping guide the company through its early stages of growth.
Nancy Whiting Looks Ahead
Following her appointment, Dr. Whiting expressed enthusiasm about assuming the leadership role at what she described as a pivotal moment for the company.
She noted that her career has focused on helping develop transformative oncology medicines and bringing those therapies to patients.
According to Dr. Whiting, she sees similar potential in Corrixr’s scientific platform and believes the company’s technology could represent an important advancement in cancer treatment.
She also acknowledged Dr. Nevin’s contributions in building the board and helping establish the company, while expressing appreciation for the opportunity to work alongside Corrixr’s executive leadership as development continues.
CEO Highlights Strengthened Leadership
Hilary M. Malone, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Corrixr Therapeutics, emphasized the significance of the board transition for the company’s future.
She stated that Dr. Whiting’s appointment strengthens Corrixr’s leadership team at a critical point as the organization prepares to enter clinical development.
Dr. Malone also expressed gratitude for Dr. Nevin’s vision, leadership, and long-standing support throughout the company’s evolution.
She added that she looks forward to continuing collaboration with both Dr. Whiting and incoming ChristianaCare CEO Jenn Schwartz as Corrixr builds upon its existing foundation and advances its development programs.
Continuing Partnership with ChristianaCare
Although leadership changes are taking place, ChristianaCare will remain closely connected with Corrixr.
The healthcare system has played a foundational role in the company’s development since its creation.
Its Gene Editing Institute provided the scientific environment from which Corrixr’s technology platform emerged.
Through continued board representation and institutional partnership, ChristianaCare remains committed to supporting the company’s ongoing research and clinical advancement.
Jenn Schwartz’s continued service on Corrixr’s Board of Directors reinforces this long-term relationship while providing continuity during the executive leadership transition.
Targeting Squamous Cell Cancers
Corrixr is developing genetic medicines focused on several aggressive forms of squamous cell carcinoma.
The company’s research currently targets cancers including:
- Lung squamous cell carcinoma
- Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
- Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
These malignancies collectively account for a substantial proportion of cancer diagnoses worldwide and often remain difficult to treat, particularly in advanced stages.
Although surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted treatments have improved outcomes for some patients, many tumors eventually develop resistance or fail to respond adequately.
Corrixr aims to address these limitations using a fundamentally different therapeutic approach based on genetic medicine.
A Novel Approach to Targeting NRF2
The company’s lead investigational therapy, CXR101, is designed to eliminate NRF2, a transcription factor that plays an important role in regulating cellular responses to oxidative stress.
In many squamous cell cancers, NRF2 becomes persistently overactive.
This abnormal activation supports several processes that enable tumors to survive and progress, including:
- Enhanced cell survival
- Continued tumor proliferation
- Immune system evasion
- Altered cellular metabolism
- Resistance to treatment
Because of these functions, NRF2 has become an attractive therapeutic target in oncology research.
However, directly inhibiting the NRF2 protein using conventional small-molecule drugs has historically proven difficult.
Acting at the Genetic Source
Rather than attempting to block NRF2 protein activity after it has already been produced, Corrixr’s genetic medicine approach seeks to intervene earlier.
CXR101 is designed to disrupt the genetic mechanisms responsible for sustained NRF2 activity.
By acting upstream, the therapy aims to eliminate the underlying biological process driving abnormal NRF2 expression.
According to the company, this strategy may allow broader disruption of multiple cancer-promoting pathways simultaneously.
Instead of targeting only one downstream consequence of NRF2 activation, CXR101 seeks to collapse several mechanisms supporting tumor survival through a single genetic intervention.
Localized Delivery Strategy
Another distinguishing feature of Corrixr’s platform is its delivery system.
CXR101 is administered using ionizable lipid nanoparticles, a technology increasingly used to deliver nucleic acid-based medicines directly into target cells.
The nanoparticles are designed for localized delivery, concentrating treatment within tumor tissue rather than exposing the entire body to therapeutic agents.
Localized administration may help reduce systemic exposure while improving delivery to cancer cells.
The company believes this strategy could potentially minimize toxicity compared with approaches requiring widespread distribution throughout the body.
Potential Advantages
According to Corrixr, disrupting NRF2 at its genetic source may simultaneously interfere with several biological processes that tumors rely upon.
These include:
- Tumor survival
- Cellular proliferation
- Immune escape mechanisms
- Metabolic reprogramming
The company believes that targeting these interconnected pathways through a single intervention could offer advantages over therapies that inhibit only individual downstream signaling mechanisms.
Although CXR101 remains in preclinical development, early research has provided the foundation for planned regulatory submission and clinical evaluation.
Preparing for Clinical Evaluation
Corrixr is currently focused on completing the remaining preclinical studies and regulatory activities necessary to support an IND application.
If the IND is accepted by regulatory authorities, the company intends to initiate first-in-human proof-of-mechanism studies designed to evaluate:
- Safety
- Pharmacology
- Target engagement
- Early biological activity
These early clinical trials will provide important information regarding whether CXR101 successfully produces the intended genetic effects in patients with squamous cell cancers.
Positive results would represent an important milestone for both the company’s platform and future development programs.
The appointment of Nancy Whiting as Chair of Corrixr Therapeutics’ Board of Directors marks an important leadership transition as the company prepares to enter clinical development. Her extensive experience guiding oncology therapies from discovery through commercialization complements Corrixr’s strategic priorities as it advances CXR101 toward regulatory submission and first-in-human clinical evaluation.
At the same time, the continued involvement of Janice Nevin, Jenn Schwartz, and ChristianaCare ensures continuity with the company’s founding institutional partner while reinforcing long-term support for its scientific mission. As Corrixr advances its innovative genetic medicine platform targeting NRF2-driven squamous cell cancers, the strengthened leadership team is expected to play a key role in guiding the company through the complex transition from preclinical research to clinical-stage biotechnology development.
About Nancy Whiting, PharmD
Nancy Whiting, PharmD, is the Chief Executive Officer of Recludix Pharma and has an established track record across all phases of drug development. Dr. Whiting is a 15-year veteran of Seagen, where she most recently served as Executive Vice President of Corporate Strategy, holding broad responsibility for corporate strategy and planning, strategic alliances and partnerships, investor relations, corporate communications, and information technologies.
She previously served as Executive Vice President of Late Stage Development, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, and Head of Experimental Medicine. During her tenure at Seagen, Dr. Whiting played a central role in the development and regulatory approval of ADCETRIS for lymphoma, PADCEV for bladder cancer, TUKYSA for breast cancer, TIVDAK for cervical cancer, and several other pipeline compounds.
Prior to transitioning to the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Whiting practiced as a Clinical Oncology Pharmacist at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of British Columbia and received her PharmD from the University of Washington and completed a residency in clinical pharmacy practice at Vancouver General Hospital. Dr. Whiting is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, and the European Society of Medical Oncology. She serves on the Board of Directors of Caribou Biosciences, Boundless Bio, and Biocom California.
About Corrixr Therapeutics
Corrixr Therapeutics is a genetic medicine company developing breakthrough treatments for squamous cell carcinomas of the lung, head & neck, and esophagus, among the deadliest and treatment-resistant cancers in the world. Corrixr’s lead program, CXR101, targets NRF2, a transcription factor consistently hyperactive in squamous tumors that drives tumor survival. Using a proprietary CRISPR-based gene editing approach, CXR101 ablates NRF2 directly at the genetic source, with no reliance on small molecule binding, dismantling the biological mechanism these tumors cannot live without while aiming to reduce the burden patients experience with conventional therapies.