Atlantic Healthcare Appoints Karl Keegan As Chief Financial Officer

Cambridge, UK, and Raleigh, NC 29 September 2016. Atlantic Healthcare plc, an emerging trans-Atlantic pharmaceutical company with a core focus on gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, today announces the appointment of Karl Keegan, as Chief Financial Officer.

Prior to joining Atlantic Healthcare, Karl gained significant experience in the UK, European and U.S. healthcare markets working in senior positions at a number of private and publicly listed companies and leading international investment banks. Within these he accumulated considerable transaction and financial experience, including numerous financings, IPOs, M&A and licensing deals.

Most recently, Karl was Chief Corporate Development Officer at Vectura Group plc (LSE: VEC), where he was responsible for M&A identification and execution, business development, alliance management and investor relations. In 2010, Karl became CFO at Pharming Group NV (AMS: Pharm) where he led a series of successful financings to progress the growth of business, and the development of the late stage clinical pipeline. In 2009, he served as CFO at Minster Pharmaceuticals plc (listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM) concluding in a successful sale of the business. Prior to that, Karl spent 12 years as a highly-ranked biotech analyst with a number of City firms including Canaccord (as Head of Research), UBS and Bank of America. He began his career at SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline (LSE:GSK)) in research, later moving into Strategic Product Development.

At Atlantic Healthcare Karl will be responsible for executing the financial strategy in support ofthe Group’s growth plans. To date, the Group has raised approximately $40 million including investment from blue chip institutions, highly successful industry executives and a $3m UK Government grant award. Atlantic Healthcare’s lead product, alicaforsen, is undergoing a pivotal Phase 3 trial for pouchitis, with read-out estimated at H2 2017. Alicaforsen is ready to start a second pivotal Phase 3 trial in ulcerative colitis. The Group is also developing alternative formulations of alicaforsen to treat other IBD indications including Crohn's disease. Atlantic Healthcare's business strategy is to build a portfolio of products that will generate multiple revenue streams through its own sales and marketing team.

Toby Wilson Waterworth, CEO at Atlantic Healthcare, said: "We are pleased to welcome Karl to Atlantic Healthcare during this exciting period in the Groups' growth. Karl is an established and well-regarded executive who has considerable experience within highly successful public and private healthcare groups and leading international investment banks. His strong financial expertise, knowledge of the industry and capital markets, plus broad experience across M&A and licensing transactions will be particularly important for the team at this important time.”

Karl Keegan, CFO at Atlantic Healthcare, said: “I am delighted to be joining Atlantic Healthcare at this exciting and important stage of the Groups' evolution. I believe alicaforsen, currently in Phase 3 clinical trials in pouchitis inflammatory bowel disease, is a key near term value driver. I am looking forward to working with Toby and the team to build on the strong foundations and accelerate the growth of the Atlantic Healthcare business.”

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