Vienna, Austria, March 27 2009 - Nabriva Therapeutics, a biotechnology company focused on developing a new class of antibiotics for serious infections caused by resistant pathogens, has announced the appointment of Dr David Chiswell as its Chief Executive Officer. Dr Chiswell has been involved with Nabriva since its foundation, having served as Chairman of the Supervisory Board for the past three years.
Dr Chiswell is a highly experienced and respected business leader within the biotech community, having made significant contributions at board level to a number of biotech companies in Europe. He founded and led Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) from 1990 until 2002 (including as its CEO from 1996 to 2002). During this time, CAT raised £150m in equity finance, completed a number of strong corporate partnerships and developed Humira, the first billion dollar drug discovered by a European biotech company. At its sale to Astra Zeneca in 2006, CAT had become one of largest and most successful British biotechnology companies.
Since leaving CAT in 2002, Dr Chiswell has served on the boards of a number of emerging private biotech companies including: Arakis Ltd (sold to Sosei Co. Ltd in 2005); Non-executive Chairman of Arrow Therapeutics Ltd (sold to Astra Zeneca plc in 2007); Non-executive Chairman of Daniolabs Ltd (sold to Vastox plc in 2007); Non-Executive Chairman of Sosei 2004-2008. He is currently Chairman of Albireo Pharma, a position which he will retain.
Commenting on his appointment, Dr Chiswell said: ”I am delighted to have the opportunity to join Nabriva as its CEO. Nabriva represents a significant opportunity to address unmet needs in the anti-infectives field by developing novel antibiotics with the potential to overcome the problem of resistance amongst the currently marketed antibiotics, and anti-microbial profiles particularly well suited for the treatment of life threatening infections. With three candidate drugs in clinical and preclinical development, I believe we are well positioned to deliver value for its investors as we progress towards critical data points for these lead assets.”
During 2009, Nabriva will generate key human data for its two lead pleuromutilin-based antibiotics BC-3205 and BC-3781. Both compounds are being developed as both oral and intravenous treatments for life threatening infectious diseases caused in particular by multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and MDR Streptococcus pneumoniae. The Company anticipates that at least one program will progress through phase II during 2010. The company also has a topical pleuromutilin antibiotic, BC-7013, in phase I clinical development.
Dr Chiswell succeeds George Golumbeski who has left the Company. Welcoming the appointment of Dr Chiswell as CEO, Dr Denise Pollard Knight, Managing Director of Nomura Phase4 Ventures (lead investor in Nabriva), who now becomes Chairman of the Supervisory Board said: ”Whilst we are sad to see George leave, the board unanimously welcomes the appointment of David as CEO. He has tremendous experience in developing value in innovative biotech companies including licensing deals, leading both private and public financings, and in achieving exits for investors.”
About Nabriva Therapeutics
Nabriva Therapeutics is a biotechnology company focused on developing a new class of antibiotics for serious infections caused by resistant pathogens. The Company’s lead programs are clinical stage pleuromutilin antibiotics, which are available for both IV and Oral administration with the potential for IV to oral step-down therapy. These antibiotic compounds have substantial medical and market potential since they offer a unique antimicrobial profile showing excellent potency and the ability to overcome resistance to all approved antibiotics. Nabriva’s two systemic products, BC-3205 and BC-3781, are being developed for both oral and IV administration with extensive phase I data becoming available during 2009. The Company also has a Phase I non-systemic pleuromutilin product candidate, BC-7013. Nabriva Therapeutics has a proven track record in world class medicinal chemistry, clinical expertise, a seasoned management team and solid IP. Nabriva Therapeutics is located in Vienna, Austria.
Nabriva Therapeutics was founded in February 2006 as a spin-out of Sandoz GmbH. In early 2006, Nabriva raised Euro 42 Million in a Series A Financing Round from a group of top level international life science investors led by Nomura Phase4 Ventures. The Company’s current shareholders are Nomura Phase4 Ventures, HBM Partners, The Wellcome Trust, Global Life Science Ventures, Novartis Venture Fund and Sandoz GmbH.
For more information on Nabriva please visit www.nabriva.com
Contact:
Nabriva Therapeutics AG College Hill Life Sciences
Dr David Chiswell
CEO
T +43 (0)1 740 93-0 OFFICE@NABRIVA.COM Dr Douglas Pretsell Senior Account Director T +49 (0)89 57001806 douglas.pretsell@collegehill.com This email, its content and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended only for the addressee. If you are not the addressee, you may not print, copy, use or rely on the contents, attachments or information in any way except with the express written permission of the sender. If this email has been sent to you in error please destroy it and contact the sender. This email has been prepared using information believed by the author to be reliable and accurate, but College Hill makes no warranty as to its accuracy or completeness. In particular, College Hill does not accept changes made to this email after it was sent. Company Name: College Hill Associates Ltd, Company Number: 1036926 Registered Address: The Registry, Royal Mint Court, London EC3N 4QN UK
