Thomas Lienard to become Interim CEO
Gosselies, Belgium, 11 October 2016, 2.00pm CEST – BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in bone fracture repair, fracture prevention and spinal fusion, today announces that Enrico Bastianelli has informed the Board of his intention to stand down as Chief Executive Officer after 10 years in the role for personal reasons. Thomas Lienard, the current Chief Business Officer, will become Interim CEO of the Company, working closely with Wim Goemaere, Chief Financial Officer, and the rest of the management team. Mr Bastianelli will continue to support the Company through a period of transition.
Michel Helbig, Chairman of Bone Therapeutics, commented: “Enrico has made a huge contribution to Bone Therapeutics over the past decade. He played an important role in its foundation and in making the Company a leader in the development of innovative cell products for high unmet medical needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases. Under Enrico’s leadership, Bone Therapeutics achieved a successful initial public offering in 2015 which raised EUR 37 million and he has overseen the clinical development and regulatory and commercial planning for the Company’s two first-in-class products, PREOB® and ALLOB®. The Board wishes to express its gratitude to Enrico for his outstanding contribution.”
Mr Helbig added: “Over the past year, we have built a strong management team to take the Company through the next phase of its growth, including the eventual commercialisation of our first products, and will continue to progress our growth strategy and advanced clinical programmes under the interim leadership of Thomas Lienard.”
Thomas Lienard (40) joined Bone Therapeutics as CBO in November 2015 with extensive international sales and marketing experience. Prior to joining Bone Therapeutics, Mr Lienard worked at Lundbeck and Eli Lilly and Co. Mr Lienard started his career as a consultant at McKinsey & Company.
About Bone Therapeutics
Bone Therapeutics is a leading biotechnology company specializing in the development of cell therapy products intended for bone fracture repair and fracture prevention. The current standard of care in this field involves major surgeries and long recovery periods. To overcome these problems, Bone Therapeutics is developing a range of innovative regenerative products containing osteoblastic/bone-forming cells, administrable via a minimally invasive percutaneous technique; a unique proposition in the market.
PREOB®, Bone Therapeutics’ autologous bone cell product, is currently in pivotal Phase IIB/III clinical studies for two indications: osteonecrosis and non-union fractures, and in Phase II for severe osteoporosis. ALLOB®, its allogeneic “off-the-shelf” bone cell product, is in Phase II for the treatment of delayed-union fractures and lumbar fusion for degenerative disease of the spine, including a minimally invasive therapy for failed spinal fusions. The Company also runs preclinical research programs and develops novel product candidates.
Founded in 2006, Bone Therapeutics is headquartered in Gosselies (South of Brussels, Belgium). Bone Therapeutics’ regenerative products are manufactured to the highest GMP standards and are protected by a rich IP estate covering 11 patent families. Further information is available at: www.bonetherapeutics.com.
