Cambridge, UK, 17 March 2016: Kymab, the Cambridge-based antibodies-to-medicines company, announced today the appointment of Dr David Chiswell OBE as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) with effect from April 2016. Dr Chiswell has occupied the position as Kymab interim CEO since early 2015 having been appointed Chairman in September 2013. Dr Chiswell will step down from his role as Chairman and Dr Tim Rink will take the role of Lead Director with effect from April.
Dr Tim Rink, Lead Director of Kymab said: “I am delighted with Dave’s appointment as CEO; Dave has an outstanding track record and experience in antibody development and building Biotech companies. He was instrumental in the development of the world’s best selling antibody, Abbvie’s HUMIRA® (Adalimumab), which was launched in 2003 and has annual sales in excess of $14 billion.”
Dr David Chiswell, CEO of Kymab commented: “I have spent one of the most satisfying years of my career as interim CEO working closely with the excellent team at Kymab. I believe Kymab has all the tools needed to enable it to become a truly successful major Biotech company. Our Kymouse® platform has already generated an enviable product pipeline of human monoclonal antibodies which we will continue to expand. We attracted high quality investors Woodford, Malin alongside the Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in our US$90 million Series B fund raise, one of the largest pre-clinical rounds in UK biotech. We have established major partnerships such as Novo Nordisk and the US cancer hospital MD Anderson. I am very pleased to be taking the helm on a permanent basis at a time when we are commencing our clinical trial programmes.”
Dr Chiswell has over 30 years’ experience in the biotechnology industry having co-founded Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) in 1990, serving as CEO from 1996 to 2002. CAT listed on the London Stock exchange in April 1997 and Nasdaq in June 2001, and was subsequently sold to AstraZenca where it forms an important part of its biopharmaceutical franchise. Since leaving CAT in 2002, he has focused on the development of early-stage biotechnology companies, having previously served as a director of Arakis, non-executive chairman of Sosei, Arrow Therapeutics and Daniolabs, and as CEO of Nabriva Therapeutics (2009 to 2012). Dr Chiswell currently serves as chairman of Albireo Pharma and is a director of Nabriva Therapeutics. He is a past chairman of the UK BioIndustry association (BIA) and in 2006 he was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen for services to the biotechnology industry.
For further information contact:
Kymab:
David Chiswell, Chief Executive Officer
Anne Hyland, Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +44 (0)1223 833 301, Email: media@kymab.com
Hume Brophy:
Mary Clark, Supriya Mathur and Hollie Vile
Tel: +44 (0)207 862 6390, Email: kymab@humebrophy.com
Notes to Editors
About Kymab
Kymab is a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of fully human monoclonal antibody drugs using its proprietary Kymouse antibody platform.
Kymouse has been designed to maximise the diversity of human antibodies produced in response to immunisation with antigens. Selecting from a broad diversity of fully human antibodies assures the highest probability of finding that rare drug candidate with best-in-class characteristics. The Kymouse naturally matures these molecules to highly potent drugs obviating the need for further time-consuming modifications. Kymab is using the platform for its internal drug discovery programmes and in partnership with pharmaceutical companies. Kymab commenced operations in 2010 and has raised over US$120m of equity financing which includes $90m Series B financing. It was founded by Prof. Allan Bradley, who is the Chief Technology Officer and has an experienced management team with a successful track record in drug discovery and development and has numerous therapeutic antibody programmes in immune-oncology, auto-immunity; hematology, infectious disease and other areas.
http://www.kymab.com
Dr Tim Rink, Lead Director of Kymab said: “I am delighted with Dave’s appointment as CEO; Dave has an outstanding track record and experience in antibody development and building Biotech companies. He was instrumental in the development of the world’s best selling antibody, Abbvie’s HUMIRA® (Adalimumab), which was launched in 2003 and has annual sales in excess of $14 billion.”
Dr David Chiswell, CEO of Kymab commented: “I have spent one of the most satisfying years of my career as interim CEO working closely with the excellent team at Kymab. I believe Kymab has all the tools needed to enable it to become a truly successful major Biotech company. Our Kymouse® platform has already generated an enviable product pipeline of human monoclonal antibodies which we will continue to expand. We attracted high quality investors Woodford, Malin alongside the Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in our US$90 million Series B fund raise, one of the largest pre-clinical rounds in UK biotech. We have established major partnerships such as Novo Nordisk and the US cancer hospital MD Anderson. I am very pleased to be taking the helm on a permanent basis at a time when we are commencing our clinical trial programmes.”
Dr Chiswell has over 30 years’ experience in the biotechnology industry having co-founded Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) in 1990, serving as CEO from 1996 to 2002. CAT listed on the London Stock exchange in April 1997 and Nasdaq in June 2001, and was subsequently sold to AstraZenca where it forms an important part of its biopharmaceutical franchise. Since leaving CAT in 2002, he has focused on the development of early-stage biotechnology companies, having previously served as a director of Arakis, non-executive chairman of Sosei, Arrow Therapeutics and Daniolabs, and as CEO of Nabriva Therapeutics (2009 to 2012). Dr Chiswell currently serves as chairman of Albireo Pharma and is a director of Nabriva Therapeutics. He is a past chairman of the UK BioIndustry association (BIA) and in 2006 he was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Her Majesty the Queen for services to the biotechnology industry.
For further information contact:
Kymab:
David Chiswell, Chief Executive Officer
Anne Hyland, Chief Financial Officer
Tel: +44 (0)1223 833 301, Email: media@kymab.com
Hume Brophy:
Mary Clark, Supriya Mathur and Hollie Vile
Tel: +44 (0)207 862 6390, Email: kymab@humebrophy.com
Notes to Editors
About Kymab
Kymab is a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of fully human monoclonal antibody drugs using its proprietary Kymouse antibody platform.
Kymouse has been designed to maximise the diversity of human antibodies produced in response to immunisation with antigens. Selecting from a broad diversity of fully human antibodies assures the highest probability of finding that rare drug candidate with best-in-class characteristics. The Kymouse naturally matures these molecules to highly potent drugs obviating the need for further time-consuming modifications. Kymab is using the platform for its internal drug discovery programmes and in partnership with pharmaceutical companies. Kymab commenced operations in 2010 and has raised over US$120m of equity financing which includes $90m Series B financing. It was founded by Prof. Allan Bradley, who is the Chief Technology Officer and has an experienced management team with a successful track record in drug discovery and development and has numerous therapeutic antibody programmes in immune-oncology, auto-immunity; hematology, infectious disease and other areas.
http://www.kymab.com
