Galapagos announces departure of CSO Piet Wigerinck later this year
June 22 2021 - 4:01PM
Galapagos announces departure of CSO Piet Wigerinck later this year
Mechelen, Belgium; 22
June
2021,
22.01 CET; regulated
information – Galapagos NV (Euronext & NASDAQ:
GLPG) announces the departure of Dr. Piet
Wigerinck later this
year.
Dr. Piet Wigerinck joined Galapagos as Senior
Vice President Development in 2008 and became Chief Scientific
Officer in 2012, overseeing the discovery of novel drug targets
through to clinical Proof-of-Concept studies. He led his teams
through the very first clinical research done in healthy volunteers
at Galapagos and was responsible for the Phase 2 FITZROY and DARWIN
programs for filgotinib, which later became Galapagos’ first
commercial product Jyseleca®. Under his leadership, Galapagos
achieved a significant portfolio of over 100 patent families.
Effective immediately, all early-stage
development activities will be added to late-stage clinical
development under the responsibility of Chief Medical Officer Dr.
Walid Abi-Saab. Piet will remain with the company the coming five
months to steer progression of early research while a new leader is
sought.
“We are grateful to Piet for his strong
scientific leadership over the years. Piet’s vision to identify
novel druggable targets has resulted in a large, data-rich pipeline
of promising molecules in multiple disease areas which ultimately
was partnered with Gilead in a landmark deal. The results with TYK2
inhibitor GLPG3667 and the patient studies with Toledo molecule
GLPG3970 expected this summer form part of his considerable
legacy,” said Onno van de Stolpe, CEO of Galapagos.
Galapagos retains all guidance for full year
2021 newsflow, including the report of topline results this summer
from a Phase 1b trial with TYK2 inhibitor GLPG3667 in psoriasis,
and three patient studies with lead Toledo candidate SIK2/3
inhibitor GLPG3970 in psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid
arthritis.
About Galapagos
Galapagos NV discovers and develops small
molecule medicines with novel modes of action, several of which
show promising patient results and are currently in development in
multiple diseases. Our pipeline comprises discovery through Phase 3
programs in inflammation, fibrosis and other indications. Our
ambition is to become a leading global biopharmaceutical company
focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of
innovative medicines. More information at www.glpg.com.
This press release contains inside information within the
meaning of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of the European Parliament
and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on market abuse (market abuse
regulation).
Except for filgotinib’s approval for the treatment of rheumatoid
arthritis by the European Commission and Japanese Ministry of
Health, Labour and Welfare, our drug candidates are
investigational; their efficacy and safety have not been fully
evaluated by any regulatory authority.
Jyseleca® is a trademark of Galapagos NV and Gilead Sciences,
Inc. or its related companies.
Contact
Investors:Elizabeth GoodwinVP Investor
Relations +1 781 460 1784
Sofie Van GijselSenior Director Investor Relations+32 485 19 14
15ir@glpg.com
Media:Carmen VroonenGlobal Head of
Communications & Public Affairs+32 473 824 874
Evelyn FoxDirector Executive Communications+31 6
53 59 19 99communications@glpg.com
Forward-looking statements
This press release includes forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, as amended, that are subject to risks,
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking
statements and, therefore, the reader should not place undue
reliance on them. These risks, uncertainties and other factors
include, without limitation, the inherent risks associated with
clinical trial and product development activities, competitive
developments, and regulatory approval requirements, including the
risk that data from the ongoing and planned clinical research
programs in rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative
colitis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, osteoarthritis, and other
inflammatory indications may not support registration or further
development due to safety, efficacy or other reasons, the timing or
likelihood of regulatory authorities approval of marketing
authorization for filgotinib for RA, UC or any other indication,
such regulatory authorities requiring additional studies, changes
in our management board and key personnel, our ability to
effectively transfer knowledge during this period of transition,
the search and recruitment of a suitable successor to lead our
research organization, Galapagos’ strategic R&D ambitions,
including progress on our fibrosis portfolio, and potential changes
of such ambitions, Galapagos’ reliance on collaborations with third
parties, including the collaboration with Gilead for filgotinib,
the uncertainty regarding estimates of the commercial potential of
filgotinib, the timing of and the risks related to implementing the
amendment of our arrangement with Gilead for the commercialization
and development of Jyseleca (filgotinib), the uncertainties
relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and our strategy,
business plans and focus, as well as those risks and uncertainties
identified in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31
December 2020 and our subsequent filings with the SEC. All
statements other than statements of historical fact are statements
that could be deemed forward-looking statements. The
forward-looking statements contained herein are based on
management’s current expectations and beliefs and speak only as of
the date hereof, and Galapagos makes no commitment to update or
publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements in
order to reflect new information or subsequent events,
circumstances or changes in expectations.
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