Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced it has appointed Jigar Raythatha as president and chief executive officer. He is rejoining Constellation from Jounce Therapeutics, Inc., where he led business strategy and development since December 2012. In his role, Raythatha will lead the company focused on harnessing its deep scientific expertise in cancer epigenetics, to advance two ongoing clinical programs, CPI-1205 and CPI-0610, targeting EZH2 and BET, respectively.

In addition, the company is applying its platform to identify epigenetic regulators of immune programs as complementary therapeutic opportunities to current and emerging immuno-oncology treatments. Prior to rejoining Constellation, Raythatha served as chief business officer at Jounce Therapeutics. He was the first employee at Jounce and helped build the company from its inception to a publicly-traded 100-person research and development organization.

Previously, he served as head of corporate development at Constellation where he led business development, strategy, and program management functions. Earlier in his career, Raythatha held roles of increasing responsibility at Biogen, Red Abbey Venture Partners, and A.T. Kearney. In addition to Raythatha's appointment, Constellation is bolstering its immuno-oncology expertise with the addition of Padmanee Sharma, M.D., Ph.D., and Robert Schreiber, Ph.D., to the company's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB).

Both distinguished scientists are renowned experts in their respective fields and will work with the Constellation leadership team to help inform research priorities and identify potential opportunities to apply the company's cancer epigenetics platform in the area of immuno-oncology. Dr. Sharma currently serves as scientific director and professor in the departments of genitourinary medical oncology and immunology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Schreiber is the alumni-endowed professor of pathology and immunology, professor of molecular microbiology, and co-leader of the Tumor Immunology Program (TIP) of the Siteman Cancer Center (SCC) at Washington University, as well as founding director of the newly formed Washington University Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs. Finally, James E. Audia, Ph.D., who has served as chief scientific officer of the company since 2011, will be appointed as an independent member of the Board of Directors and a special scientific advisor to the company.

This transition to important new leadership roles within the company will occur in mid-July and allow Dr. Audia to pursue new career opportunities closer to his primary residence while continuing to make significant contributions to Constellation's R&D programs.