November 2024 • PharmaTimes Magazine • 36-37
// YOUR MOVES //
Your Moves
Mover of the Month
Curve Therapeutics has appointment of Andre Hoekema as Chair of the Board and Cora Griffin as Head of Business Development. The appointments continue the strong momentum at Curve following the recent appointment of Simon Jones as CFO/COO.
Andre is a highly experienced and successful biotech executive with 40 years’ experience in the industry. He served as Chief Business Officer and member of the Executive Committee at Galapagos Pharma for 18 years, with responsibility spanning M&A, business development and IP.
During his time at Galapagos, he led multiple pharma partnerships, acquisitions and divestments, including two landmark deals with Gilead.
He was also part of the team that completed successful IPOs on Euronext and Nasdaq. Andre serves as a member of the supervisory advisory boards of Artax Biopharma, Fibrocor Therapeutics and Mimetas BV.
Meanwhile, Cora has considerable experience in developing and implementing portfolio strategies from start-ups to large pharmaceutical companies.
She was previously Head of Business Development & Alliance Management at ReViral and was instrumental in the acquisition by Pfizer for US$525 million. Cora served as Anti-infectives Strategy Lead at Pfizer, responsible for the infectious diseases portfolio strategy for the research unit.
Simon Kerry, Chief Executive Officer of Curve Therapeutics, said: “Andre’s wealth of experience in the sector and significant track record, and Cora’s visionary outlook and strategic nous, will be invaluable as we grow the business and progress our lead candidate towards the clinic.”
Alchemab Therapeutics has announced that Jane Osbourn, Alchemab’s Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), has succeeded Young Kwon, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and member of the Board.
As Co-Founder and CSO, Jane has led all aspects of Alchemab’s platform development and drug discovery activities to date and brings to the CEO role more than 30 years of biopharmaceutical industry experience.
Prior to co-founding Alchemab in 2019, Jane served as Vice President of R&D at MedImmune, the biologics arm of AstraZeneca, where she contributed to the development of antibody phage display technology and the discovery and development of several marketed antibody therapies including Humira (adalimumab) and Imfinzi (durvalumab).
Jane was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Scrip’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 for services to drug discovery, development and biotechnology.
She is a Venture Partner at SV Health Investors, has served as a Director of Babraham Bioscience Technologies, Cambridge Enterprise, the Crick Translational Advisory Group and was Chair of the Board of Directors of the UK BioIndustry Association.
Jane Osbourn, incoming CEO of Alchemab, commented: “With several novel targets and therapeutic antibodies in preclinical development, I am delighted to lead Alchemab as CEO through this next phase towards achieving our ultimate goal of discovering and developing ground-breaking treatments for patients.”
Pfizer has announced that John McGinley has been appointed UK Managing Director and Country President, formally taking over from Susan Rienow who was appointed Pfizer’s Global Chief Marketing Officer in July.
John joined Pfizer in 2011 and has been leading the UK Primary Care division since November 2023, a role which has most recently involved supporting DHSC, UKHSA and the NHS with the implementation of a national immunisation programme.
He has acted as Interim UK Country President for the past two months and has been a member of the ABPI board since February 2024.
Commenting on his appointment, John said: “It is a privilege to take on this responsibility, knowing that every year millions of people rely on Pfizer medicines and vaccines across the UK.
"While our country undoubtedly faces persistent and growing healthcare challenges, I believe that Pfizer has the science, scale and experience to support in tackling these and easing the associated economic and societal pressures.”
AstronauTx has appointed Dr Jane Rhodes as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and member of the Board, and Magnus Ivarsson as Chief Translation and Early Development Officer.
Jane is an accomplished leader with 25 years of experience in the biotech industry. She was previously President and Chief Business Officer at Verge Genomics, and has held a variety of operational leadership roles in R&D, Corporate Strategy, Innovation and Business Development, at Biogen and Forma Therapeutics.
A neuroscientist by training, Jane began her career in the field of discovery research and worked on novel therapies for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), stroke and multiple sclerosis (MS).
She has contributed to the development and launch of several marketed products for neurological indications over the span of her career.
Magnus is a drug developer with more than 20 years of experience in the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.
He has held a range of senior research leadership roles, with responsibilities ranging from early discovery, translation and early clinical development for both small molecules and biologics with a focus on sleep, EEG and neurodegeneration.
Magnus’s career includes more than a decade at large pharmaceutical companies Pfizer, Merck and AstraZeneca.
Over years, he has held senior leadership positions at multiple successful biotechnology companies in Boston, including Aliada Therapeutics, Vesalius Therapeutics, Alkermes Plc, Rodin Therapeutics and Proteostasis Therapeutics.
Chiesi Group has announced that Laura Vergani has joined as Senior Vice President of Global Communications & Public Affairs.
Laura brings a proven track record of successful experience from her international career; she was based in London for the last 20 years, where she worked in senior roles at leading global companies such as Walgreens Boots Alliance, Barclays and Standard & Poor’s.
Most recently, she served as Chief Communications Officer for clean energy start-up newcleo.
Her expertise is expected to positively contribute to the company’s strategic objectives, enhancing our global communications and public affairs initiatives showcasing Chiesi’s work making a positive impact on people’s lives.
Laura Vergani shared her excitement about joining the team: “I could not be happier to take on this role, and to return to the healthcare sector joining a dynamic and forward-thinking company with strong roots and values. I look forward to supporting Chiesi, its mission and its impressive leadership team strengthening our global communications and public affairs strategy."
Walgreens Boots Alliance has announced the appointment of Anthony Hemmerdinger as Managing Director of Boots UK and Ireland.
This follows the announcement in July that Seb James would be stepping down in November, after six years, to pursue a new role in the healthcare sector.
Anthony’s appointment follows a thorough search process that considered both external and internal candidates.
Anthony is currently Retail & Operations Director at Boots UK, a position he has held since September 2022. He brings with him over 30 years of experience in the UK retail sector.
In his current role at Boots, Anthony leads the team across 1,900 stores and distribution centres.
He has been a principal member of the leadership team under which the business has undergone a successful transformation, growing into the UK’s leading health and beauty destination.
Prior to joining Boots, Anthony was Chief Operating Officer at Asda, where he spent six years leading company operations across its UK retail portfolio.
He previously held senior operational and strategy roles at Greene King, Sainsbury's and Carphone Warehouse, and prior to that spent 17 years at Marks & Spencer.
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