New Board Appointment (9682A)
10 April 2012 - 4:00PM
UK Regulatory
TIDMAKT
RNS Number : 9682A
Ark Therapeutics Group PLC
10 April 2012
ARK THERAPEUTICS GROUP PLC
New Board Appointment
David Venables appointed as Executive Director - Manufacturing
Services
London - 10 April 2012, London, UK: Ark Therapeutics Group plc
("Ark" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Dr David
Venables has been appointed to the Board of Ark as Executive
Director - Manufacturing Services. David will report directly to
Martyn Williams, CEO, with responsibility for building Ark's
manufacturing services business, which is now core to the Company's
future development.
David Venables BSc (Hons) PhD joins Ark from Intercell, the
international vaccines company, where he has been responsible since
2007 for building Intercell's manufacturing capabilities in Europe
and the USA, most recently, as Chief Operating Officer of Intercell
USA Inc. based in Maryland, USA. He has an outstanding track record
in the global biotech manufacturing services sector, and has
extensive operational and international business development
experience and is well positioned to lead Ark's manufacturing
initiatives.
In 1993 David was awarded his PhD in Mammalian Cell Fermentation
from Surrey University, after which he joined Medeva PLC in 1995
where he spent 5 years as Group Leader - Process Development. In
1998 David was appointed Head of Biotechnology at Covance and then
in 2002 he moved to Q1 Biotech Ltd as Director of Operations -
Biomanufacturing. Following the acquisition of Q1 Biotech by
BioReliance (which was subsequently acquired by Invitrogen in
2003), David was appointed Director of Market Development and
Global Manufacturing at Invitrogen. In 2004 he was appointed
Director of Operations at BioReliance Europe before joining
Intercell in 2007. David is relocating back to the UK and will join
Ark on 16 April 2012.
Ark's world class science base has allowed it to develop a
unique gene mediated development and manufacturing capability based
in Kuopio, Finland. Over the last 18 months, as part of the
Company's overall transformation, there has been an increasing
emphasis placed on the revenue generating capability of the
manufacturing assets, with a number of third party collaborations
already signed and several more now in discussion. As a result, and
coupled with the increasing market demand, the Ark Board view this
activity as central to the Company's future. David Venables'
appointment is a key step towards realising the significant
potential of this opportunity.
Martyn Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Ark commented:
"David's extensive experience in building commercially focused
manufacturing service businesses will enable us to accelerate the
development of our world-leading viral manufacturing capability
into a major, self-sustaining business. I look forward to working
with him to execute the next stage of the Company's strategy."
Iain Ross, Executive Chairman of Ark commented:"I am delighted
that David has agreed to join us. We are committed to building an
international manufacturing services business and David's
appointment to Ark's Board emphasises the importance we place upon
this role and he is uniquely qualified to lead this
initiative."
The Company confirms that there are no disclosures to be made
under UKLA Listing Rule 9.6.13R in respect of Dr Venables.
For further information please contact:
Ark Therapeutics Group plc Tel: + 44 (0)20 7388 7722
Martyn Williams, CEO
Iain Ross, Chairman
FTI Consulting Tel: +44 (0)20 7831 3113
Ben Atwell
Susan Quigley
Ark Therapeutics Group plc
Ark Therapeutics Group plc is an innovative gene-based medicine
company with operations in the UK and Finland that seeks to
capitalise through partnerships on its pipeline of programmes in
high value areas of unmet medical need within vascular disease and
cancer, and to exploit its unrivalled viral manufacturing
capability based in Kuopio, Finland. Ark Therapeutics' biological
manufacturing operations provide process development and
manufacturing for a growing number of third party clients for a
variety of stages of therapeutic development, as well as for its
own internal programmes.
Ark's research is focused on discovering new approaches to gene
delivery using viral vectors with particular emphasis on genes that
control tissue vascularisation, especially VEGF, and is based on
the work of its two world-leading research centres in Kuopio and
London. The Finnish group is led by Professor Seppo Yla-Herttuala
and is expert in the exploitation of viral technology to address
serious medical problems, while Professor John Martin leads a team
in London who have complementary skills in the understanding of
biological structures and the development of small molecule
agonists and antagonists. This combination of skills has resulted
in Ark identifying and bringing forward a number of attractive
programmes in gene therapeutics and small molecules.
Ark's shares were first listed on the London Stock Exchange in
March 2004 (AKT.L).
This announcement includes "forward-looking statements" which
include all statements other than statements of historical facts,
including, without limitation, those regarding the Group's
financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of
management for future operations (including development plans and
objectives relating to the Group's products and services), and any
statements preceded by, followed by or that include forward-looking
terminology such as the words "targets", "believes", "estimates",
"expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "can", "may", "anticipates",
"would", "should", "could" or similar expressions or the negative
thereof. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other important factors beyond the Group's
control that could cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of the Group to be materially different from future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are
based on numerous assumptions regarding the Group's present and
future business strategies and the environment in which the Group
will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could
cause the Group's actual results, performance or achievements to
differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include
those relating to Ark's funding requirements, regulatory approvals,
clinical trials, reliance on third parties, intellectual property,
key personnel and other factors. These forward-looking statements
speak only as at the date of this announcement. The Group expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates
or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this
announcement to reflect any change in the Group's expectations with
regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances
on which any such statements are based. As a result of these
factors, readers are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking
statement.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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