TuHURA Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HURA) announced that Dr. Craig Tendler will provide strategic and operational services consistent with those of a chief medical officer while maintaining his role as a board member. Tendler previously served as vice president of oncology clinical development at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Research & Development.

The Tampa-based immuno-oncology company said Tendler will oversee clinical development strategy and operations for its pipeline, including the VISTA inhibiting antibody TBS-2025. TuHURA acquired TBS-2025 through its merger with Kineta Inc. on June 30, 2025.

During his tenure at J&J, Tendler coordinated more than 30 oncology regulatory approvals and 15 new medical entity approvals. His team secured worldwide approvals for treatments including ZYTIGA, DARZALEX, CARVYKTI, and TECVAYLI. Four biologic or cell therapy approvals for multiple myeloma stages currently generate more than $16 billion in worldwide sales, according to the company.

TuHURA said it has received preliminary feedback from the FDA's Division of Hematologic Malignancies I on the early development plan for TBS-2025. The company plans to develop the treatment as both monotherapy and in combination with menin inhibitors for acute myeloid leukemia and other blood-related cancers.

Prior to J&J, Tendler served as vice president of oncology clinical research at Schering-Plough Research Institute. He earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and graduated from Mount Sinai School of Medicine with high honors.

TuHURA is conducting a Phase 3 registration trial of its lead product IFx-2.0 administered with Keytruda compared to Keytruda plus placebo for first-line treatment of advanced or metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma.