Lantern Pharma Strengthens Board with Appointment of Dr. Lee T. Schalop to Advance AI-Driven Oncology Research

Lantern Pharma (NASDAQ: LTRN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of using artificial intelligence (AI) and genomic data to revolutionize oncology drug discovery, has announced the addition of Dr. Lee T. Schalop to its Board of Directors. Dr. Schalop, renowned for his co-founding role and leadership as CEO of Oncoceutics Inc., brings a wealth of experience in biotechnology and financial markets, particularly in the development of targeted therapies for challenging cancers such as HK327M-mutant gliomas.

The significance of Dr. Schalop's appointment lies in his proven track record of steering Oncoceutics through its acquisition by Chimerix Inc. (NASDAQ: CMRX) for $450 million in 2021, followed by Jazz Pharmaceuticals for $935 million in April 2025. His expertise in neurooncology and strategic transactions is expected to synergize with Lantern Pharma's AI-powered drug development platform, especially in advancing the CNS cancer pipeline at its subsidiary, Starlight Therapeutics.

Panna Sharma, CEO of Lantern Pharma, highlighted the alignment of Dr. Schalop's expertise with the company's mission to leverage AI for accelerating the discovery and development of precision oncology therapies. Dr. Schalop expressed his enthusiasm for contributing to Lantern's efforts in delivering innovative treatments for patients with limited options, underscoring the potential impact of AI in transforming cancer care.

Lantern Pharma's proprietary AI and machine learning platform, RADR(R), which utilizes over 200 billion oncology-focused data points and more than 200 advanced ML algorithms, stands to benefit from Dr. Schalop's insights. The platform has already demonstrated its capability to reduce the timeline and cost of drug development, with programs advancing from AI insights to clinical trials in just 2-3 years at approximately $2.5 million per program.

This strategic appointment underscores Lantern Pharma's commitment to harnessing cutting-edge technology and expert leadership to address unmet needs in oncology, promising a new era of precision medicine for cancer patients worldwide.