EXTON, Pa., July 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViroPharma Incorporated announced today that the company has added two key members of management to its European subsidiary, ViroPharma Europe.
Thierry Darcis, MD, MBA, joins ViroPharma as vice president, general manager, ViroPharma Europe. Dr. Darcis will be responsible for the general management of ViroPharma Europe; for the development of commercial strategies for Europe with a special focus on UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy; and to ensure commercial excellence in all areas, including pricing and reimbursement strategies, and sales. He joins the company after serving as vice president, global marketing head and member of the executive team at Novartis Vaccines.
Richard Bax, MBBS, FRCP, MRCGP, FFMP joins ViroPharma as vice president, clinical development and medical affairs, ViroPharma Europe. Dr. Bax will be responsible for the development of the European clinical and medical affairs activities and infrastructure, and for European clinical strategies for CAMVIA(TM) (maribavir); he will also be involved in identifying and assessing new European business development opportunities. He joins the company from his most recent posts as a consultant focused on developing clinical and regulatory strategies; and as vice president, clinical development, Europe for Chiron Corporation.
“Thierry and Richard bring to ViroPharma a depth of knowledge and experience that we believe will be instrumental in building our European presence as we begin our ex-US development and commercialization work for CAMVIA, and in leveraging the organization to other business endeavors,” commented Daniel Soland, ViroPharma’s chief commercial officer. “Their experiences at Novartis Vaccines and GSK Biologicals, and at Chiron and SmithKline Beecham, respectively, will be integral parts in the development of ViroPharma Europe. We are extremely pleased to be able to attract such highly qualified individuals to ViroPharma, and we all look forward to working closely with them. “
As vice president of global marketing for Novartis Vaccines, Dr. Darcis was responsible for the global marketing function. Most recently, he was involved in the launch and life cycle management of products including Fluad(R) (MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccine) and Optaflu(R), the first cell culture-derived influenza vaccine. Prior to Novartis Vaccines, Dr. Darcis spent over five years with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals in Rixensart, Belgium, culminating in his tenure as head of marketing excellence, with responsibility for rolling out the ‘GSK Brand and Market Building’ process piloted with the Infanrix(R) (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed) product range. He previously acted as the head of GSK Biologicals’ commercial pediatric team. Before GSK Biologicals, he worked for UCB Pharma, and as a physician at the Cape Town City Council Health Care department and Tygerberg Hospital in Capetown, South Africa and H.F. Verwoerd Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. Dr. Darcis received his medical degree from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium; his masters of business administration from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa; and his degree in marketing and advertising from the Solvay Business School in Brussels.
As a consultant, Dr. Bax worked with clients including Schroeders venture capital group and the Gates Foundation. At Chiron Corporation, Dr. Bax’ served as vice president, clinical development, Europe, and achieved successful European registrations for products including Cubicin(R) (daptomycin) and Cardioxane(R) (dexrazoxane). Prior to his tenure at Chiron Corporation, he was the chief scientific officer for Biosyn Inc., a Philadelphia-based specialty pharmaceutical company. Dr. Bax spent nine years with SmithKline Beecham as vice president and global director of the anti-infective clinical research and development therapeutic unit, where he developed, licensed and launched products including Famciclovir and Augmentin(R) (amoxicillin/clavulanate potassium) BID. In previous roles in the pharmaceutical industry, Dr. Bax has been instrumental in the development and approval of numerous anti-infectives, including meropenem, moxalactam, cefotetan, and cefuroxime. Dr. Bax is the author of over 100 scientific publications on pharmaceutical development, antibiotic discovery, and bacterial resistance and is on the central advisory committee of the International Partnership on Microbicides. He received his bachelor of medicine and bachelor of surgery (MBBS) from the Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, University of London, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) in London and Edinburgh.
About ViroPharma Incorporated
ViroPharma Incorporated is committed to the development and commercialization of products that address serious diseases treated by physician specialists and in hospital settings. ViroPharma commercializes Vancocin(R) approved for oral administration for treatment of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis caused by Clostridium difficile and enterocolitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains (for prescribing information, please download the package insert at http://www.viropharma.com/docs/Vancocin_pi_2007.htm). ViroPharma currently focuses its drug development activities in viral diseases including cytomegalovirus (CMV) and hepatitis C (HCV). For more information on ViroPharma, visit the Company’s website at http://www.viropharma.com.
ViroPharma Incorporated
CONTACT: Will Roberts, Senior Director, Corporate Communications,+1-610-321-6288, or Robert Doody, Manager, Corporate Communications,+1-610-321-6290, both of ViroPharma Incorporated