iOnctura Appoints Paul Sekhri as Board Chair
The clinical-stage biotech firm adds industry veteran Paul Sekhri to lead its board as it pivots toward late-stage development.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in People
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Biotech company iOnctura has appointed veteran executive Paul Sekhri as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. Sekhri takes over the role from Dr. Mark Velleca to guide the company as it readies its lead candidate, roginolisib, for late-stage trials.
Why it matters
The leadership change is intended to bolster iOnctura's strategy in company building and financing as it moves its clinical pipeline toward pivotal development. The firm is leveraging Sekhri's extensive experience to help define the development path for its ongoing clinical programs.
Paul Sekhri brings over 35 years of industry experience to the board, having previously chaired Longboard Pharmaceuticals prior to its $2.6 billion acquisition in 2024.
The players
Paul Sekhri
He is a veteran life science executive who serves as the President and CEO of vTv Therapeutics and holds numerous board chair positions across the industry.
Mark Velleca
He previously served as the Chair of the Board of Directors for iOnctura before his departure from the role.
iOnctura
This is a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Amsterdam that focuses on developing treatments for patients with cancer.
The details
The transition occurs as iOnctura maintains headquarters in Amsterdam and operates subsidiaries across Geneva and Cambridge to manage two fully enrolled randomized clinical studies. The company is now focused on upcoming study readouts that will dictate the future progression of roginolisib into Phase III testing.
Timeline
2024: Lundbeck acquired Longboard Pharmaceuticals.
December 2025: The OCULE-01 study completed recruitment.
November 2025: The HEMA-MED study began.
January 2026: The PULMO-01 study completed recruitment.
October 15, 2026: Paul Sekhri was appointed iOnctura Board Chair.
Market Landscape
The appointment signals a strategic pivot for iOnctura, placing the firm in direct alignment with the board-building strategies seen in high-growth biotech ventures. This move shifts leadership toward a model that prioritizes late-stage financing and strategic exit readiness.
The leadership change focuses on long-term corporate development rather than immediate consumer-facing changes. Shareholders should monitor upcoming clinical readouts as the primary indicator of the company's future valuation and strategic success.
The takeaway
Executive leadership changes are common indicators that a biotech firm is shifting its focus from early-stage research to commercial viability. Investors often look to board appointments as a signal of a company's readiness for upcoming clinical milestones and capital infusion.
Further reading
For more news regarding leadership transitions in the biotechnology sector, visit our People section.
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