Axalbion Therapeutics Appoints Stephanie Read as Chief Executive Officer

Manchester, UK – July 1, 2026 – Axalbion Therapeutics Limited, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel medicines for the treatment of chronic cough, today announced the appointment of Stephanie Read as Chief Executive Officer and Director.

Ms. Read brings extensive leadership experience across biopharmaceutical strategy, corporate development, financing, business development, commercialization, and M&A. She most recently served as Director, President and Global Chief Executive Officer of Ironshore Therapeutics, where she led a successful turnaround and sale of the company to Collegium Pharmaceutical. She previously held senior corporate development and strategy roles at CSL and AstraZeneca/MedImmune, where she worked on portfolio strategy, business development, licensing, M&A, and capital allocation across multiple therapeutic areas.

“Stephanie joins Axalbion at an important stage in the company’s development,” said Prof Ashley Woodcock, Chairman of Axalbion. “Her experience in leading biopharmaceutical companies, shaping strategic transactions, building high-performing teams, and unlocking value in complex situations will be highly relevant as we advance AX-8 and evaluate the best path to finance and partner the program.”

Axalbion’s lead product candidate, AX-8, is a potent and selective oral agonist of the transient receptor potential melastatin 8 (TRPM8) ion channel being developed for refractory or unexplained chronic cough. Axalbion believes that activation of TRPM8-expressing sensory fibers in the throat has the potential to reduce cough hypersensitivity, coughing, and throat irritation through a differentiated, locally acting mechanism.

“I am delighted to join Axalbion’s Board and executive team, and to lead the company through the next stage of AX-8’s development including potential strategic partnerships,” said Ms. Read. “Chronic cough remains an area of significant unmet medical need, and AX-8 has a differentiated profile that merits further development. I look forward to helping Axalbion build out its global team and corporate and clinical strategies needed to advance our program and our Company to the next inflection points for patients and investors.”

Ms. Read’s appointment reflects Axalbion’s continued commitment to the cough community.

About AX-8

AX-8 is Axalbion’s lead clinical-stage product candidate for refractory or unexplained chronic cough. AX-8 is designed to act locally in the throat by activating TRPM8-expressing sensory fibers, with the aim of reducing cough hypersensitivity and throat discomfort. Axalbion has evaluated AX-8 in clinical studies in chronic cough and is continuing to develop the program, including formulation, clinical, regulatory, and partnering activities.

About Axalbion

Axalbion is a privately held, clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel medicines for the treatment of chronic cough. The company was founded in December 2016 and is based in Manchester, United Kingdom, with operations in Switzerland. For further information, please visit www.axalbion.com.

Contacts

Axalbion Therapeutics Limited
investor@axalbion.com