--- title: Ovid Trifan | The Bracken Group image: https://www.thebrackengroup.com/hubfs/OTrifan_headshot.png --- Senior Partner · The Bracken Group # Ovid Trifan, MD, PhD Executive Clinician-Scientist · Oncology Drug Development An executive clinician-scientist with 25+ years across oncology, immuno-oncology, and radiopharmaceutical drug development — from target identification and IND-enabling work through first-in-human trials, registrational strategy, and global regulatory submissions. [Oncology Drug Development](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/consultants/ovid-trifan#exp-oncology) [Immuno-Oncology](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/consultants/ovid-trifan#exp-io) [Radiopharmaceuticals](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/consultants/ovid-trifan#exp-radiopharma) [Clinical Development Strategy](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/consultants/ovid-trifan#exp-clindev) [First-in-Human Trials](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/consultants/ovid-trifan#exp-fih) [Medical Monitoring & Safety](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/consultants/ovid-trifan#exp-safety) [Regulatory & NDA Strategy](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/consultants/ovid-trifan#exp-regulatory) [Companion Diagnostics](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/consultants/ovid-trifan#exp-cdx) [BD & Due Diligence](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/consultants/ovid-trifan#exp-bd) ![Ovid Trifan, MD, PhD — Senior Partner at The Bracken Group](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/hubfs/OTrifan_headshot.png) [Work with Ovid](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/contact) [View Publications →](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/publications) 25+Years in Oncology R&D 14Phase 1–2 Studies Architected 25H-Index 2Patents   ## Executive Summary Dr. Ovid Trifan is an executive clinician-scientist whose career spans the full arc of oncology drug development — from target identification and validation, drug discovery, and IND-enabling research, through first-in-human trials, signal-searching Phase 2 programs, and global registrational strategy. With an MD and a PhD in cell biology and formal oncology clinical research training, he pairs deep translational science with the operational discipline of a serial Chief Medical Officer. As a Senior Partner at The Bracken Group, Ovid advises biotech and pharma clients on clinical development strategy, early-phase oncology programs, portfolio prioritization, IND planning, study design, and organizational scaling, while supporting investor communications, program diligence, and clinical development governance. His therapeutic reach spans oncology, immuno-oncology, and radiopharmaceuticals, with hands-on experience building clinical development and clinical operations functions from the ground up, launching first-in-human diagnostic and therapeutic studies, and standing up international clinical site networks to accelerate enrollment and regulatory timelines. Across roles at Alpha-9 Oncology, Totus Medicines, TRex Bio, Apexigen, Onyx, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Johnson & Johnson, Ovid has contributed to landmark regulatory submissions — including the ixabepilone NDA and cetuximab filings in head & neck, colorectal, and lung cancer — architected entire clinical programs from pre-IND onward, and served as scientific and clinical spokesperson for investors, partners, and key opinion leaders. Clients engage Ovid when an oncology or radiopharmaceutical program needs a physician-executive who can connect first-in-human science to a credible path to approval.   ## Areas of Expertise ### Oncology Drug Development End-to-end development across solid tumors — target identification and validation, drug discovery, IND-enabling work, and Phase 1–3 execution through registration. ### Immuno-Oncology CD40 agonist antibody programs (APX005M / sotigalimab), checkpoint and myeloid-targeted combinations, and regulatory T-cell biology across multiple tumor types. ### Radiopharmaceuticals & Theranostics Clinical and operational build-out for radiopharmaceutical oncology assets — first-in-human diagnostic, therapeutic, and Phase 0 studies of biodistribution, uptake, and antitumor activity. ### Clinical Development Strategy Phase 1–3 and registrational trial design, portfolio prioritization, target product profile logic, and clinical/regulatory roadmaps executed capital-efficiently. ### First-in-Human & Early-Phase Trials First-in-human dose escalation with alternative schedules for rapid PK/PD profiling, optimal-window determination, and broad Phase 2 signal-searching programs. ### Medical Monitoring & Drug Safety Medical monitoring across Phase 1–3 oncology trials, safety surveillance and signal evaluation, and protocol and amendment authoring — from first-in-human dosing through registrational studies. ### Regulatory & NDA / BLA Strategy FDA and global submissions, including the ixabepilone NDA and cetuximab filings in head & neck, colorectal, and non-small cell lung cancer across the US and Canada. ### Companion Diagnostics & Biomarkers Biomarker-driven trial design and companion diagnostic strategy — βIII-tubulin IHC and KRAS mutation assays — linking patient selection to registration intent. ### Business Development & Due Diligence Scientific and clinical spokesperson for investor presentations, partnership discussions, asset acquisition assessment, and fundraising-facing materials.   ## Career History 2025 – Present Senior Partner The Bracken Group dba Bracken Data, Inc. 2024 – 2025 Chief Medical Officer Alpha-9 Oncology — Clinical-Stage Radiopharmaceutical Oncology 2022 – 2023 Chief Medical Officer Totus Medicines — Precision Oncology (Covalent PI3Kα Inhibitors) 2021 – 2022 Chief Medical Officer TRex Bio — Regulatory T-Cell Biology 2014 – 2021 Chief Medical Officer & SVP, Clinical Development Apexigen, Inc. — APX005M (sotigalimab), anti-CD40 immune agonist 2012 – 2014 Senior Medical Director & Kinase Inhibitor Franchise Lead Onyx Pharmaceuticals — sorafenib, regorafenib, search & evaluation 2010 – 2012 Group Director, Medical Lead — Oncology Global Clinical Development Bristol Myers Squibb Oncology — cetuximab, necitumumab, companion diagnostics 2005 – 2010 Director & Global Clinical Lead Bristol Myers Squibb — Ixabepilone & CT-322 Global Development Teams 2003 – 2005 Associate Director — Trabectedin Program Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development 2000 – 2003 Senior Research Scientist & Project Leader, Oncology Pharmacology Pharmacia Corporation — COX-2 inhibitors, CPT-11, lipid receptor modulators   ## Selected Publications - 2021 CD40 Agonistic Monoclonal Antibody APX005M (sotigalimab) and Chemotherapy, With or Without Nivolumab, for Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: A Phase 1b Study Lancet Oncology · O’Hara MH, O’Reilly EM … Trifan OC, et al. - 2021 A Phase I Study of APX005M and Cabiralizumab With or Without Nivolumab in Melanoma, Kidney Cancer, or NSCLC Resistant to Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Clinical Cancer Research · Weiss SA, Djureinovic D … Trifan O, et al. - 2013 Randomized Phase 2 Study of Ixabepilone Plus Carboplatin or Paclitaxel Plus Carboplatin in Advanced βIII-Tubulin–Positive NSCLC Journal of Clinical Oncology · Edelman MJ, Schneider C-P … Trifan OC, Reck M. - 2004 Mechanisms of COX-2-Induced Tumorigenesis: Mammary Epithelial COX-2 Regulation of Angiogenesis via PGE2-Dependent Angiogenic Factor Expression Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) · Chang SH … Trifan OC, Lane TF, Hla T. - 2002 COX-2 Inhibition With Celecoxib Enhances Antitumor Efficacy and Reduces Diarrhea Side Effect of CPT-11 Cancer Research · Trifan OC, Durham WF, Salazar V … Masferrer JL. - 1998 Localization of the Fourth Locus (GLC1E) for Adult-Onset Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma to the 10p15-p14 Region American Journal of Human Genetics · Sarfarazi M, Child A … Trifan OC, et al. [View all publications →](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/publications) ## Ready to work together? Bring Ovid’s oncology and radiopharmaceutical development expertise to your next program. Let’s discuss your project. [Work with Ovid →](https://www.thebrackengroup.com/contact) ## Looking for the right expertise? Connect with The Bracken Group’s team, or explore our full roster of life science consultants. 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