Leon Hooftman
About Leon Hooftman
Barinthus Biotherapeutics’ Chief Medical Officer since June 2024, Leon Hooftman, M.D., is 67 and trained as a physician at Utrecht State University with specialist training in Cambridge and London; he brings extensive clinical development experience across oncology, infectious disease and inflammation . He joined as CMO effective June 2024 amid the company’s strategic pipeline focus on VTP-300 (HBV) and VTP-1000 (celiac) and a June 2024 restructuring to extend cash runway, providing context for his execution mandate .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA Pharmaceuticals | Chief Medical Officer | May 2018 – Jun 2024 | Senior clinical leadership in biotech; multi-asset development experience |
| Polyphor AG | Chief Medical Officer | Sep 2014 – May 2018 | Led clinical development in anti-infectives/oncology |
| Synthon BV | Chief Medical Officer | Oct 2011 – Aug 2014 | Oversaw development programs in generics/biopharma |
| Chroma Therapeutics | Chief Medical Officer | Oct 2004 – Jan 2011 | Clinical leadership at oncology biotech |
| Celltech | Head of Clinical Development | Dec 2002 – Oct 2004 | Led clinical development until Celltech’s acquisition by UCB |
| Roche | Senior management roles | May 1995 – Dec 2002 | Various senior R&D/clinical management positions |
External Roles
No public company board or external directorships are disclosed in the company’s proxy and 10-K filings reviewed .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary (GBP) | £325,000 per annum | Set in Service Agreement; subject to tax/NIC; UK-based role |
| Notice period | 6 months | Either party; company may pay in lieu of notice (PILON) |
| Start date | June 3, 2024 | Employment and continuous service commencement |
Performance Compensation
| Instrument | Grant date | Amount/terms | Vesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity award(s) (type/size not disclosed) | June 3, 2024 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Company reported a late Form 4 filing for grants on June 3, 2024; specifics not in proxy |
| Annual cash bonus | Not disclosed | Company uses discretionary, performance-based bonuses for executives | Not disclosed | Proxy describes performance-based bonus framework for executives but does not detail CMO targets |
- Company option grants generally vest in three equal annual installments unless otherwise specified (context for typical vesting cadence; CMO-specific terms not disclosed) .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (shares/% outstanding) | Not disclosed for Hooftman; the beneficial ownership table lists directors and named executive officers and does not include him (he was not a named executive officer for 2024) . |
| Pledging/hedging | Hedging prohibited; pledging allowed only with Audit Committee pre-approval under insider trading policy . |
| Rule 10b5-1 plans | Company permits 10b5-1 trading plans for officers subject to MNPI restrictions . |
Employment Terms
| Topic | Key terms | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Chief Medical Officer | |
| Start date | June 3, 2024 | |
| Base salary | £325,000 per annum | |
| Notice / PILON | 6 months’ notice by either party; company may terminate immediately with payment in lieu of notice equal to fixed annual salary for the notice period (plus accrued holiday) | |
| Termination for cause | Immediate termination without compensation for defined gross misconduct/other specified causes | |
| Garden leave | Company may withhold duties/access, require holiday, restrict contacts during notice (“garden leave” style provisions) | |
| Confidentiality | Broad confidentiality and non-disparagement obligations during and after employment | |
| Restrictive covenants | 12-month post-termination restrictions incl. non-solicit of key personnel/customers and non-compete within “Relevant Area” (with carve-outs for permitted investments) | |
| Expenses/benefits | Reimbursement of reasonable business expenses; other benefits discretionary | |
| Jurisdiction | Governed by English law; non-exclusive English courts | |
| Equity on termination | Equity awards treated per plan rules; committee discretion on pro‑ration and performance condition assessment | |
| Change of control | Under plan rules, committee may determine treatment (e.g., time elapsed, conditions met); CMO-specific cash multiples not disclosed; CEO-specific CoC terms outlined separately |
Clawback policy: Nasdaq-compliant incentive compensation recoupment policy effective October 2, 2023 applies to executive officers for three completed fiscal years preceding a restatement; defines covered persons and erroneously awarded compensation methodology .
Section 16 compliance: Company disclosed a late Form 3 at appointment and late Form 4 to report June 3, 2024 equity grants for Hooftman .
Performance & Track Record
- Appointment and remit: Appointed CMO effective June 2024 during Barinthus’ pivot to prioritize VTP‑300 (HBV) and VTP‑1000 (celiac) and complete a 25% workforce reduction to extend runway into 2Q26, positioning clinical leadership at the center of focused execution .
- Background/expertise: M.D. (Utrecht), specialist training (Cambridge/London), and two decades of senior clinical development roles across Roche, Celltech, and multiple biotechs, covering oncology, infectious disease, and inflammation .
Investment Implications
- Alignment and incentives: Compensation emphasizes fixed UK salary with equity grants at hire; plan-level norms of three-year option vesting indicate equity-based alignment, though Hooftman’s specific grant size/vesting were not disclosed .
- Retention risk: Contractual protections include 6‑month notice, PILON, confidentiality, and 12‑month post‑termination non‑compete/non‑solicit, which reduce near‑term attrition risk and protect IP/customer relationships .
- Trading/pledging risk: Insider policy bans hedging and permits pledging only with Audit Committee approval; 10b5‑1 policy enables pre‑planned sales, mitigating informational risk if equity vests; monitor any future 10b5‑1 adoptions or pledges .
- Governance watch items: Administrative late Section 16 filings at appointment and grant are disclosed; no CMO‑specific change‑of‑control cash multiple is disclosed, and equity treatment defaults to plan/committee discretion, limiting outsized parachute exposure while preserving retention via equity .
Note: Where the proxy and 10‑K do not disclose CMO‑specific bonus targets, equity quantities, or beneficial ownership, items are omitted rather than estimated .