Xilio Appoints Houvras as Chief Medical Officer

WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 28, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Xilio Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing masked immuno-oncology therapies for people living with cancer, today announced the appointment of Yariv J. Houvras, M.D., Ph.D., as Chief Medical Officer. The appointment comes as the company advances XTX501, its bispecific PD-1 / masked IL-2, in the clinic and develops its next generation of multi-specific, masked T cell engagers.

Houvras, who brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across premier industry and academic research institutions in clinical development, translational medicine, and immuno-oncology, including hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, will play a key role in advancing Xilio's pipeline of masked immuno-oncology (I-O) therapies. Prior to joining Xilio, Houvras served as senior vice president of clinical and translational development at Tubulis, GmbH (Tubulis), through its acquisition by Gilead Sciences, Inc. At Tubulis, Houvras was the global head of clinical development and was responsible for scientific and medical oversight of Tubulis' antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) programs in solid tumors. In this role, he led multiple first-in-human and registration-enabling clinical studies. Prior to Tubulis, Houvras served as senior medical director of hematology and translational sciences at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., where he was the physician for linvoseltamab, a bispecific T cell engager targeting BCMA and CD3, from first-in-human studies through accelerated and conditional regulatory approval in the U.S. and European Union. Earlier in his career, Houvras served in academic roles of increasing responsibility at Weill Cornell Medical College and Harvard Medical School. He completed his internal medicine residency at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and his medical oncology and hematology fellowships at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and MGH. In addition, Houvras has served on various leadership boards, including Director of the International Thyroid Oncology Group, and has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Nature, Cell, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. He received his B.S. in biology and English literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and an M.D. and Ph.D. from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Houvras' appointment underscores Xilio's commitment to advancing its masked immuno-oncology pipeline, which leverages the company's clinically validated masking technology and capabilities to develop I-O therapies designed to selectively activate within the tumor microenvironment, achieving durable efficacy without the severe side effects associated with systemically active I-O agents. Xilio's goal is to unlock the full potential of its pipeline of masked I-O therapies, which includes XTX501, a bispecific PD-1 / masked IL-2, and its next generation of multi-specific T cell engagers.

Xilio Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing masked immuno-oncology therapies with the goal of significantly improving outcomes for people living with cancer without the systemic side effects of current I-O treatments. Leveraging its clinically validated masking technology and capabilities, Xilio is developing I-O therapies designed to selectively activate within the tumor microenvironment to achieve durable efficacy without the severe side effects associated with systemically active I-O agents. Learn more by visiting www.xiliotx.com and follow us on LinkedIn (Xilio Therapeutics, Inc.).

Xilio Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company discovering and developing masked immuno-oncology (I-O) therapies with the goal of significantly improving outcomes for people living with cancer without the systemic side effects of current I-O treatments. Leveraging its clinically validated masking technology and capabilities, Xilio is developing I-O therapies designed to selectively activate within the tumor microenvironment, achieving durable efficacy without the severe side effects associated with systemically active I-O agents. Learn more by visiting www.xiliotx.com and follow us on LinkedIn (Xilio Therapeutics, Inc.).