VERAXA Biotech (NASDAQ: VRXA), a developer of next-generation antibody-based cancer therapies, announced the appointment of Raju Willener as chief financial officer, effective immediately. Willener brings more than three decades of international financial leadership experience spanning 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 support the company’s capital strategy, strategic opportunities and continued development of its proprietary BiTAC(R) technology platform and oncology pipeline.
Willener’s extensive background includes serving 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 areas including corporate finance, capital markets, investor relations and investment portfolios exceeding CHF 30 billion in assets under management. This depth of experience is particularly relevant as VERAXA advances its pipeline of bispecific T cell engagers and bispecific ADCs, which require significant capital to move from discovery into clinical development.
The appointment comes at a critical time for VERAXA, which is focused on leveraging its proprietary BiTAC(R) technology platform. The company 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. With Willener’s financial acumen, the company is better positioned to navigate the complexities of capital markets and strategic partnerships, potentially accelerating the timeline for its therapeutic candidates to reach patients.
BiTAC(R) is a registered trademark of VERAXA Biotech GmbH. For more information about the company, visit its newsroom at https://ibn.fm/VRXA.
