SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Circle Pharma, Inc. has appointed Anne E. Borgman, M.D., as chief medical officer as the company advances its pipeline of next-generation targeted macrocycle therapeutics for cancer. Dr. Borgman brings more than two decades of experience in oncology drug development, including leadership roles that have contributed to multiple U.S. and European regulatory approvals.
David J. Earp, J.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Circle Pharma, said Dr. Borgman’s background will strengthen the company as it progresses several clinical and preclinical programs. “Dr. Borgman joins Circle with an established track record of leading clinical development teams to successful oncology drug approvals in both the U.S. and EU. Her ability to translate strong science into meaningful therapies for patients is exceptional,” he said. “Her leadership and deep experience will be instrumental as we continue the clinical development of our first-in-class cyclin A/B RxL inhibitor, CID-078, advance our cyclin D1 program into the clinic, and prepare for the next stages of growth at Circle.”
Dr. Borgman said she is eager to help shape the company’s clinical strategy as it pursues cancer targets considered among the most challenging in the field. “Circle Pharma’s MXMO™ platform is opening the door to a promising new class of targeted macrocycle therapies, with the potential to address some of the most challenging and impactful cancer targets such as the cyclins,” she said. “I’m thrilled to join this talented team and to help guide the clinical development of programs that could make a real difference for patients with few treatment options.”
Before joining Circle Pharma, Dr. Borgman served as chief medical officer of Sutro Biopharma, where she advanced the company’s lead program into pivotal studies for ovarian cancer and infant leukemia. She previously held senior leadership roles at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, overseeing global development for four marketed oncology and hematology products and shaping development plans for emerging targets. Earlier in her career, Dr. Borgman served as vice president of clinical research and development at Exelixis, contributing to the global development of cabozantinib and leading multiple Phase 3 trials. She has also held roles at KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Talon Therapeutics and Abbott Laboratories, where she developed early strategies for venetoclax and veliparib.
Dr. Borgman sits on the boards of NextCure, Curis and NiKang and holds an M.D. from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She completed her pediatrics residency at Baylor College of Medicine and a fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology and bone marrow transplantation at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She earned a B.S. in biochemistry from the University of Illinois.
