SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RAPT Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: RAPT), a clinical-stage, immunology-based biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapies for patients with inflammatory and immunological diseases, today announced the appointment of Lori Lyons-Williams as chair of its board of directors, succeeding William Rieflin, who stepped down from the board effective January 3, 2025. Mr. Rieflin will remain as a consultant for the company.

“We are pleased to welcome Lori as chair of the board,” said Brian Wong, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of RAPT. “In the four years that Lori has served as a board member, she has provided invaluable guidance based on her leadership experience driving strategic and commercial success in both biotech and pharmaceutical companies. We look forward to her increased involvement as we pursue late-stage development and potential commercialization in the field of inflammatory diseases. We also thank Bill for his nine years on our board providing steady and wise counsel.”

“It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve as chair of the RAPT board,” said Mr. Rieflin. “I have confidence in the board and the management team and believe that Lori has the skills and experience to help guide RAPT into the future.”

Ms. Lyons-Williams, an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience spanning multinational pharmaceutical and emerging biotech companies, is President and CEO of Abdera Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company leveraging antibody engineering to design and develop new precision radiopharmaceuticals for cancer. Previously, Lori was president and chief operating officer of Neumora Therapeutics and earlier served as chief commercial officer of Dermira, a biopharmaceutical company focused on immunology and medical dermatology, until its acquisition by Eli Lilly. Before that, she spent 15 years at Allergan in roles of increasing responsibility, where she successfully launched numerous commercial products, including multiple indications of BOTOX®. Lori currently serves on the boards of directors of Abdera Therapeutics and Contineum Therapeutics (Nasdaq: CTNM); she joined the RAPT board of directors in 2021.

“I am excited to partner with Brian and his team as RAPT evolves as a company. I am particularly encouraged by the broad opportunity for RPT904 in food allergy and other allergic diseases as well as the promise and potential of the company’s CCR4-targeted drug candidates,” said Ms. Lyons-Williams. “I look forward to collaborating with my fellow board members as we continue to advance the company.”

About RAPT Therapeutics, Inc.
RAPT Therapeutics is a clinical-stage, immunology-based therapeutics company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing therapies for patients with inflammatory and immunological diseases. The company leverages its proprietary discovery and development platform to advance both biologics and selective small molecules aimed at normalizing critical immune drivers underlying these conditions.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Each of these statements is based only on current information, assumptions and expectations that are inherently subject to change and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the clinical development of RPT904, the commercial prospects of RPT904 and other statements that are not historical fact. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in these forward-looking statements include uncertainties inherent in the initiation, progress and completion of clinical trials and clinical development of RAPT’s product candidates; the risk that clinical trials may have unsatisfactory outcomes; risks associated with preclinical development of product candidates; risks that efforts to secure licensing and other business development opportunities may not be successful; and other important factors, detailed in RAPT’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, and subsequent filings made by RAPT with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. RAPT disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

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