Jeff Strovel recently assumed the role of CEO at Irazú Oncology, a company pioneering a proprietary cancer vaccine platform focused on treating colon cancer. Dr. Strovel’s personal connection to the disease, stemming from his mother’s successful battle with colon cancer, fuels his passion for Irazú’s mission. He firmly believes that the work done at Irazú has the potential to revolutionize treatment options for cancer patients, particularly for those facing colon cancer – a disease that can often leave patients and their families grappling with a scarcity of good treatment options. Irazú’s mission is to develop better treatment alternatives that will improve clinical outcomes for patients suffering from cancer. “We’re striving to eradicate one of the scourges of mankind and provide hope for those battling cancer,” Strovel said. “In clinical trials, hope is often scarce, so it’s crucial to offer therapies that don’t exacerbate patients’ suffering and can potentially extend their lives. While we may not succeed in every case, there’s no greater calling than contributing to this global effort to cure cancer. Witnessing a patient return home to cherish moments with their family, moments they once thought they’d never experience, reaffirms why we are dedicated to this cause.”
About Jeff
Jeff Strovel, a dynamic figure in the world of Biopharma, holds a Ph.D. in Human Genetics from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Following his fellowship at the National Cancer Institute Department of Pathology at the NIH, Dr. Strovel joined Avalon, where he spent about nine years driving drug discovery and development. His tenure culminated in serving as Head of Translational Oncology for his last two years. Co-founding the Clinical Research Organization (CRO) Noble Life Sciences with a group of local life science veterans, Dr. Strovel incubated new companies like Neximmune and ConverGene Pharmaceuticals. Serving as Chief Scientific Officer and President at ConverGene Pharmaceuticals from 2011 to 2015, he later assumed the Chief Executive role until 2017. Dr. Strovel’s journey led him to co-found Veralox, where he served as CEO. Renowned for his ability to secure venture capital, streamline R&D processes, and foster teamwork, Dr. Strovel has brought therapeutic products from concept to clinical development with remarkable success. His innovative approach to integrating technology and methodologies has earned him recognition as a visionary scientific leader. As of March 2024, Dr. Strovel serves as CEO of Irazú Oncology.
About Irazú
Irazú Oncology has developed a proprietary cancer vaccine platform that leverages outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from genetically attenuated bacteria. Their OMVs are engineered to display tumor antigens or neoantigens expressed in tumors, triggering potent antitumor immune responses and enhancing the body’s immune system to destroy neoplastic cells. The platform is highly adaptable and can express various tumor antigens, offering a cost-effective alternative for vaccine generation. Irazú’s lead colorectal cancer vaccine candidate, IRZ-CRC-1, has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in preclinical studies. Their mission is to utilize this superior immunotherapy technology to enhance clinical outcomes for cancer patients with a wide range of solid and liquid tumors.
