Step Pharma Appoints Dr. Karen L. Smith as Chief Medical Officer

Step Pharma appointed Dr. Karen L. Smith as Chief Medical Officer (CMO), effective immediately, in October 2025123.

Dr. Smith has over 25 years of experience in healthcare, including senior executive roles at Bristol Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca, and Merck123.

She has led more than 100 clinical trials and secured over 20 regulatory approvals across oncology, cardiology, dermatology, rare diseases, and neuroscience123.

Smith's leadership will focus on advancing Step Pharma’s CTPS1 inhibitor, dencatistat, for targeted cancer therapy and other indications123.

Her appointment supports Step Pharma's 'pipeline in a product' strategy and follows the company’s recent €38 million Series C financing2.

She currently serves on the boards of Skye Bioscience and Context Therapeutics, and has contributed to several high-value biotech exits, including Capstan Tx’s acquisition by AbbVie and Mariana Oncology’s acquisition by Novartis13.

Sources:

1. https://www.pharmanow.live/latest-news/step-pharma-appoints-karen-smith-cmo

2. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/10/28/3175309/0/en/Step-Pharma-announces-the-appointment-of-Dr-Karen-Smith-as-Chief-Medical-Officer.html

3. https://www.v-bio.ventures/step-pharma-announces-the-appointment-of-dr-karen-smith-as-chief-medical-officer/