Immunocore Pivots R&D, Taps Internal Talent After Top Executive Departs

OXFORDSHIRE, England – January 30, 2026

Immunocore Holdings plc is overhauling its research and development leadership, opting to streamline its structure by promoting two internal veterans following the departure of Dr. David Berman, the company’s Executive Vice President of Research and Development. The move signals a significant strategic pivot for the commercial-stage biotechnology firm as it aims to build on the success of its flagship cancer drug, KIMMTRAK.

Dr. Berman, who was instrumental in guiding KIMMTRAK through its pivotal late-stage trials, will leave Immunocore on February 27, 2026. He has accepted a Development Head role at the large commercial-stage biotech company Moderna, a move that underscores the high demand for seasoned R&D executives in the competitive life sciences sector.

Rather than launching an external search for a direct replacement, Immunocore is leveraging its internal talent pool. The company announced the promotions of Dr. Mohammed Dar, its Chief Medical Officer, and Mark Moyer, its Head of Regulatory Sciences, to Executive Vice President roles. This decision reflects a shift away from a single, centralized R&D head towards a more distributed leadership model, empowering specialists to guide the company's increasingly complex pipeline.

A Strategic Shift, Not a Succession Crisis

Immunocore's leadership has framed the transition as a deliberate evolution of its R&D operating model, designed to support the company's next phase of growth. The company is moving to capitalize on the momentum from KIMMTRAK, which is now approved in 39 countries for the treatment of uveal melanoma, and to accelerate its diverse pipeline.

In a statement, Chief Executive Officer Bahija Jallal praised Dr. Berman’s contributions while expressing confidence in the new structure. “David has been instrumental in delivering the Phase 3 trial that has led to the approval of KIMMTRAK, and in positioning our rich pipeline for success including three ongoing Phase 3 trials,” she said. “We are confident in our world-class R&D organization, leadership and ability to deliver on our near-term milestones and long-term vision. I thank David for his partnership and wish him well.”

The decision to forgo a direct replacement is a calculated one. By splitting the former R&D head's responsibilities, Immunocore is placing a greater emphasis on the distinct disciplines of clinical execution and regulatory strategy. This approach is often seen in more mature biopharmaceutical companies, where the challenges of late-stage development, global regulatory submissions, and life-cycle management require dedicated and highly specialized leadership.

Empowering Proven Internal Leaders

The promotions of Dr. Dar and Mr. Moyer place two of the key architects of KIMMTRAK's success into newly empowered positions. Their expanded roles are tailored to steer Immunocore’s assets through the critical, and often perilous, late stages of development and toward global markets.

Dr. Mohammed Dar, now Executive Vice President, will assume expanded oversight of clinical development. Since joining Immunocore in 2019, he has had direct oversight of all clinical programs across the company’s oncology, infectious disease, and autoimmune portfolios. His extensive experience, honed over a 16-year career at GSK, Medimmune, and AstraZeneca, includes leading the development of approved drugs like durvalumab and pazopanib. His promotion solidifies his role as the central figure in executing the clinical strategy for Immunocore's future therapies. “Along with Mark and our talented R&D colleagues, I am firmly committed to delivering our strategic priorities including progressing our ongoing clinical programs, as we continue to bring transformative therapies to patients,” Dr. Dar stated.

Mark Moyer will become Executive Vice President, Chief Regulatory and Quality Officer. Moyer has been the mastermind behind KIMMTRAK's global regulatory strategy, successfully navigating the complex approval processes in 39 countries. With over 35 years in the industry, his career includes providing strategic regulatory leadership for more than 35 Biologics License Applications (BLAs) and Marketing Authorisation Applications (MAAs) for blockbuster drugs such as nivolumab and ipilimumab. His new, elevated role underscores the critical importance of regulatory and quality excellence as the company seeks to expand KIMMTRAK’s indications and bring new products from its ImmTAX platform to market.

Charting the Course Beyond KIMMTRAK

With a successful commercial product in hand, Immunocore's focus is now twofold: maximizing the potential of KIMMTRAK and advancing a deep pipeline built on its novel TCR bispecific immunotherapy platform, known as ImmTAX. The new R&D structure appears purpose-built to tackle these challenges.

The company has three ongoing Phase 3 trials that were advanced under Dr. Berman's watch. A key near-term goal is the completion of enrollment in the Phase 3 TEBE-AM trial for KIMMTRAK in previously treated cutaneous melanoma, expected in the first half of 2026. Having dedicated leadership in clinical development under Dr. Dar and regulatory affairs under Mr. Moyer is crucial for hitting these milestones and preparing for potential new drug applications.

Beyond oncology, the company is making significant pushes into autoimmune and infectious diseases. Plans to file a clinical trial application for a type 1 diabetes candidate and initiate trials in the autoimmune space in 2026 highlight the breadth of the ImmTAX platform. This diversification requires deep expertise in navigating distinct clinical and regulatory pathways, a challenge the new leadership structure is designed to meet.

Navigating Opportunity and Risk in Biotech's Executive Suite

Immunocore's strategic choice to streamline rather than replace its top R&D executive presents both opportunities and potential risks that investors and industry observers will watch closely. The opportunity lies in creating a more agile, focused, and efficient organization. By empowering proven leaders who are deeply familiar with the company's science and culture, Immunocore may accelerate decision-making and improve execution on its late-stage programs.

However, the move is not without risk. The absence of a single, unifying R&D head could, if not managed carefully, lead to a fragmented strategic vision, particularly for the early-stage research that fuels the long-term pipeline. There is also the risk of overburdening the newly promoted executives, who are taking on significantly expanded responsibilities. The company's success will depend on the ability of Dr. Dar and Mr. Moyer to collaborate seamlessly and for the broader organization to adapt to the new, decentralized R&D model.

Market reaction to the announcement has been measured, with analysts likely waiting to see how the new structure impacts the company's ability to execute on its ambitious goals. Recent analyst coverage, such as a 'Buy' rating from UBS with a $55 price target issued prior to the news, has been predicated on the strength of the KIMMTRAK franchise and the promise of the pipeline. The new leadership team is now tasked with validating that confidence and proving that this internal pivot is the right move to transform Immunocore into a multi-product biopharmaceutical powerhouse.