Maris Hartmanis Appointed New CEO of Medivir AB
Maris Hartmanis replaces Ron Long, who has been President and CEO of Medivir since 2009. Under Ron Long’s leadership, the company has obtained a clear commercial focus and has taken several important steps towards the goal of becoming a profitable pharmaceutical company. In consultation with Ron Long, the board has found the timing appropriate to hand over the leadership to Maris Hartmanis. In connection with Ron Long’s resignation from his position as CEO, he will also resign from the board of Medivir.
Maris Hartmanis has a Ph.D. degree and is an Associate Professor in biochemistry. He has extensive experience from the life science industry, from senior positions within Gambro, Amersham and Pharmacia and was appointed CEO of the specialty pharmaceutical company BioPhausia in 2010. Maris Hartmanis was appointed deputy CEO and COO of Medivir following Medivir’s acquisition of BioPhausia earlier this year.
The chairman of the board, Göran Pettersson, comments: “We are very happy to welcome Maris Hartmanis as the new CEO of Medivir. We have all been impressed by Maris’ great capacity and competence, both in his role as CEO of BioPhausia and, now, in Medivir’s executive management team as deputy CEO. Through the appointment of Maris Hartmanis as CEO, we secure an appropriate succession of the leadership of Medivir and a continued positive development of Medivir as a research-based specialty pharmaceutical company. We thank Ron Long for his highly valued contribution, both as CEO and board member during the past years.”
About Medivir
Medivir is an emerging research-based specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development of high-value treatments for infectious diseases. Medivir has world class expertise in polymerase and protease drug targets and drug development which has resulted in a strong infectious disease R&D portfolio. The company’s key pipeline asset is TMC435, a novel protease inhibitor, which is in phase 3 clinical development for hepatitis C and is partnered with Tibotec Pharmaceuticals. In June 2011, Medivir acquired the specialty pharmaceutical company BioPhausia to ensure commercialization of TMC435 in the Nordic markets, once approved.
Medivir’s first product, the unique cold sore product Xerese®/Xerclear® was launched on the US market in February 2011. Xerese®/Xerclear®, which has been approved in both the US and Europe is partnered with GlaxoSmithKline to be sold OTC in Europe, Japan and Russia. The rights in North America, Canada and Mexico have recently been sold to Meda AB. Medivir has retained the Rx rights for Xerclear®in Sweden and Finland.
Medivir is required under the Securities Markets Act to make the information in this press release public. The information was submitted for publication at 8:30a.m. CET on 26 September 2011.
For more information about Medivir, please visit the company’s website: www.medivir.com
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Contact:
Medivir(www.medivir.com):Rein PiirCFO &VP Investor RelationsMobile: +46 708 537 292