SAN DIEGO — Erasca, Inc. (Nasdaq: ERAS), a clinical-stage precision oncology company developing therapies for RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers, has appointed Charles S. Fuchs, M.D., M.P.H., as President of Research and Development, effective immediately.
Dr. Fuchs brings more than three decades of experience in oncology research, clinical care and drug development. He will help lead Erasca’s R&D strategy as the company advances its portfolio of RAS-targeted cancer therapies.
“Charlie is one of the most respected leaders in oncology, whose work has led to the successful development of multiple approved cancer therapies,” said Jonathan E. Lim, M.D., Erasca’s Chairman, CEO and Co-founder. “As we expand the development and prepare for potential future commercialization of our RAS-targeting franchise, his deep scientific expertise, particularly in gastrointestinal cancers, and proven ability to translate research into new medicines will help shape our R&D strategy.”
Dr. Fuchs said Erasca’s work targeting RAS-driven cancers could address a major challenge in oncology.
“Erasca’s focus on shutting down RAS-driven cancers has the potential to address one of the most prevalent oncogenic drivers, and one of oncology’s greatest challenges today,” he said. “I am thrilled to be working alongside this talented team to advance new therapies that address critical unmet needs across multiple tumor types.”
Dr. Fuchs most recently served as Chief Medical Officer of Tubulis, which was acquired by Gilead, where he oversaw clinical strategy and pipeline development.
Before joining Tubulis, he was Senior Vice President and Global Head of Oncology and Hematology Product Development at Genentech and Roche. In that role, he led development programs that resulted in approvals for several cancer therapies, including Lunsumio, Columvi, Polivy and Tecentriq.
Earlier, Dr. Fuchs served as Director of the Yale Cancer Center and Physician-in-Chief at Smilow Cancer Hospital. He also helped launch several biotechnology companies and founded EvolveImmune Therapeutics.
Previously, he was Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Division and Robert T. and Judith B. Hale Chair in Pancreatic Cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he established research programs focused on gastrointestinal cancers and cancer epidemiology.
Dr. Fuchs also serves on the Board of Directors of CytomX Therapeutics and as a Senior Advisor to Frazier Life Sciences. He is board-certified in medical oncology and earned his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and M.P.H. from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
