The therapeutic antibody developer Patrys (ASX:PAB) has announced the appointment of Dr Samantha South as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 16 February 2026.
Dr South arrives at Patrys with a career that bridges scientific rigour, regulatory expertise and commercial strategy. An experienced biotechnology executive, she has built a reputation for advancing preclinical assets to clinical readiness and guiding life sciences companies through critical value-creation phases in both public and private settings. Her appointment reflects the Board’s intent to pair scientific innovation with disciplined execution as the company accelerates its development programs.
A Founding Director of Argenica Therapeutics, Dr South has held senior commercialisation roles at leading Australian research institutions, including Queensland University of Technology and the University of Western Australia. In those roles, she negotiated and established multiple licences, options, and assignments with industry partners, including global pharmaceutical leaders Sanofi. She has also served as a Director of several UWA spin-out biotechnology companies, including MiReven, Eridan Technologies, OxiDx, OncoRes Medical and Rage Biotech Pty, building a portfolio of experience in translating early-stage research into commercially viable ventures.
Her advisory work has extended across the sector. Dr South has contributed strategic guidance on therapeutics and diagnostics development through the Innovation Growth Program and as a consultant to a diverse range of listed and private biotech companies. Most recently, she served as a Non-Executive Director of Reliis prior to its acquisition by Patrys, and she currently chairs the Life Sciences WA Board. Earlier in her career, she worked in preclinical and regulatory roles at contract research organisations TetraQ and GZP, gaining hands-on experience in translational development programs and regulatory submissions.
Academically, Dr South holds a PhD and an MBA and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Her scientific roots are in central nervous system medical research, with experience at Weill Medical College at Cornell University in New York, The University of Queensland and The Garvan Institute at UNSW.
Patrys Chair Peter Christie described the appointment as a strategic alignment of leadership and ambition. He emphasised Dr South’s combination of scientific depth, regulatory and development expertise, and commercial acumen, noting that her track record of advancing assets from preclinical development to the clinic positions her to lead the company through its next phase of growth and clinical advancement. With the recent expansion of the company’s pipeline, the Board sought a chief executive capable of executing across multiple development pathways with both pace and discipline.
Dr South characterised the appointment as an opportunity at a defining moment in Patrys’ trajectory. She pointed to the company’s scientifically differentiated deoxymab platform and expanded pipeline as foundations for generating meaningful therapeutic impact and shareholder value. Committing to methodical clinical progress, efficient capital deployment and strategic portfolio development, she outlined a vision focused on near-term clinical and regulatory catalysts.