Nucleome Therapeutics has appointed Michelle Morrow as chief scientific officer, strengthening its senior leadership team as its lead inflammatory disease programme moves towards IND-enabling studies.

The Oxford-based biotech said Morrow will take up the role on 23 February 2026. The appointment comes as Nucleome advances NTP464, its lead monoclonal agonist antibody, into preclinical development.

The move reflects operational progress rather than a product announcement. Nucleome recently nominated its first preclinical development candidate for NTP464, which is now progressing towards IND-enabling studies, marking a key step for the company’s pipeline in inflammatory diseases.

Morrow brings two decades of experience in drug discovery and development across biotech and large pharma. She most recently served as chief scientific officer at Avacta Therapeutics, where she led discovery and preclinical research and advanced its oncology programme through candidate selection to IND approval.

Earlier, she was svp and head of invoX Therapeutics Innovation following its acquisition of F-star Therapeutics, where she held research leadership roles including svp and head of research. She also held senior scientific roles at MedImmune, now part of AstraZeneca.

At Nucleome, she will oversee research and development strategy as the company seeks to translate insights from human genetics into new therapies for inflammatory disease.

Mark Bodmer, chief executive officer at Nucleome Therapeutics, said: “We warmly welcome Michelle to Nucleome. She brings a wealth of experience in advancing drug discovery candidates through the clinical pathway. Her deep expertise in immunology and bispecific antibody therapeutics will be critical as Nucleome accelerates its ambition to tackle the molecular causes of inflammatory disease. Michelle is recognised for translating complex scientific and development considerations into clear, actionable insights that will strengthen decision-making across our portfolio and she will be a valuable member of our leadership team.”

Morrow said: “I am joining Nucleome at a pivotal stage in its growth, as the Company translates unique insights from the non-coding genome into a differentiated pipeline of potential new medicines for patients with inflammatory disease. Nucleome’s ability to access previously untapped biology creates a powerful opportunity to deliver first-in-class immunomodulatory therapies, and I am eager to work with the team to advance these programmes towards the clinic and ultimately bring meaningful impact to patients’ lives.”

Nucleome’s platform is focused on 3D genomics and the analysis of the non-coding genome to identify molecular drivers of inflammatory disease. By linking functional genetic variants to the genes they regulate, the company aims to uncover targets and mechanisms not readily detected through conventional approaches.

Its lead candidate, NTP464, is described as a novel monoclonal agonist antibody designed to modulate immune pathways implicated in inflammatory diseases. The programme is currently progressing towards IND-enabling studies, with further preclinical data expected to shape its regulatory strategy.

The appointment of a chief scientific officer with experience in advancing programmes to IND stage suggests Nucleome is aligning its leadership with its transition from discovery-focused research to clinical development execution.