LEXINGTON, Mass. and AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands,
June 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- uniQure N.V. (Nasdaq:QURE), a
leader in human gene therapy, today announced the appointment of
Steven L. Zelenkofske, D.O., as Chief Medical Officer, effective
immediately. He will report to Matt Kapusta, Chief Executive
Officer of uniQure, and will be based in the Company's Lexington,
Massachusetts facility. Dr. Zelenkofske will succeed Christian
Meyer, M.D., Ph.D. and be responsible for leading all clinical
research and development, medical affairs and related functions at
uniQure. Dr. Meyer, who has made significant contributions to
uniQure since joining the company in 2013, will work closely with
Dr. Zelenkofske to ensure a seamless transition.
A photo accompanying this announcement is
available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7f440f54-659a-497e-88e6-bc24727bffe0
"Steve is a proven leader with both important
industry and clinical practice experience," said Mr. Kapusta. "He
has worked effectively in both large and small corporate
environments and has an accomplished track record leading clinical
research through all phases of development and onto successful
regulatory approvals. As we advance our hemophilia B and
Huntington's disease programs through the clinic, expanding our
medical and clinical capabilities in the United States will become
increasingly important, and Steve's broad experience will be
instrumental in helping uniQure deliver our gene therapy candidates
to patients."
Dr. Zelenkofske has nearly 15 years of clinical
research experience within the industry, having previously held
leadership positions at AstraZeneca, Sanofi-Aventis, Boston
Scientific, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Most recently, Dr.
Zelenkofske served as Vice President and Therapeutic Area Head of
Cardiovascular/Metabolism for AstraZeneca. Prior to joining Astra
Zeneca, he served as Chief Medical Officer for Regado Biosciences,
a developer of RNA aptamer therapies. His clinical experience
outside of industry includes serving on the cardiology and
electrophysiology teams with Lehigh Valley Heart Specialists, Heart
Care Group and Cardiology Care Specialists, all in Allentown, PA,
and on the medical staff of Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia.
Dr. Zelenkofske holds Bachelor of Science and
Master of Science degrees from Emory University and a Doctor of
Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Philadelphia College of
Osteopathic Medicine. He conducted his graduate medical education
at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and is
board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and cardiac
electrophysiology.
"I am excited about this very promising
opportunity at uniQure," stated Dr. Zelenkofske. "I look forward to
working with the team to advance the clinical development of the
Company's gene therapy programs and to collaborate with research
colleagues to further identify opportunities in the early stage
pipeline."
"On behalf of the company's Board of Directors,
leadership team and employees, I want to thank Christian for his
tremendous contributions during the past years of growth and
transition at uniQure," stated Mr. Kapusta. "This includes his
leadership in executing a successful Phase I/II clinical program in
hemophilia B, establishing clinical operations, medical affairs and
pharmacovigilance teams, and achieving regulatory accomplishments
for the hemophilia B program through Breakthrough Therapy and PRIME
designations. Christian worked tirelessly in these areas and this
success would not have been possible without his effort and
support."
In connection with Dr. Zelenkofske's offer of
employment, uniQure has granted him 175,000 restricted stock units
(RSUs) vesting over three years. One-third of the RSUs will vest on
the first anniversary of Dr. Zelenkofske's start date with uniQure,
and each additional one-third of RSUs will vest on the second and
third anniversary of his start date subject to Dr. Zelenkofske's
continued employment with the Company. This award has been made
pursuant to the NASDAQ inducement grant exception as a component of
Dr. Zelenkofske's employment compensation. The inducement grant is
being made as an inducement material to Dr. Zelenkofske's
acceptance of employment with the Company in accordance with NASDAQ
listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
About uniQure
uniQure is delivering on the promise of gene therapy - single
treatments with potentially curative results. We are leveraging our
modular and validated technology platform to rapidly advance a
pipeline of proprietary and partnered gene therapies to treat
patients with CNS, liver/metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
www.uniQure.com
uniQure Forward-Looking
Statements
This press release contains
forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of
historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often
indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could,"
"estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to", "may,"
"plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will,"
"would" and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are
based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information
available to management only as of the date of this press release.
These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding the implementation and effects of the
Company's new strategic and organizational changes, the development
of our gene therapy product candidates, the success of our
collaborations and the risk of cessation, delay or lack of success
of any of our ongoing or planned clinical studies and/or
development of our product candidates. Our actual results could
differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking
statements for many reasons, including, without limitation, risks
associated with corporate reorganizations and strategic shifts,
collaboration arrangements, our and our collaborators' clinical
development activities, regulatory oversight, product
commercialization and intellectual property claims, as well as the
risks, uncertainties and other factors described under the heading
"Risk Factors" in uniQure's 2015 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 4, 2016. Given
these risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, and we assume
no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if
new information becomes available in the future.
uniQure Contacts:
FOR INVESTORS:
Maria E. Cantor
Direct: 339-970-7536
Mobile: 617-680-9452
m.cantor@uniQure.com
Eva M. Mulder
Direct: +31 20 240 6103
Mobile: +31 6 52 33 15 79
e.mulder@uniQure.com
FOR MEDIA:
Tom Malone
Direct: 339-970-7558
Mobile: 339-223-8541
t.malone@uniQure.com
This
announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf
of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.
The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely
responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: uniQure N.V. via Globenewswire
uniQure NV (NASDAQ:QURE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
uniQure NV (NASDAQ:QURE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024