Appointment of New Chairman

RNS Number : 0357J

Oxford Biomedica PLC

15 December 2015

 

Appointment of new Non-Executive Chairman, Lorenzo Tallarigo

Oxford, UK - 15 December 2015: Oxford BioMedica plc ("Oxford BioMedica" or "the Group") (LSE: OXB), a leading gene and cell therapy group, is pleased to announce that Dr. Lorenzo Tallarigo will be appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of the Group on 1 February 2016. 

From 2008 to 2014 Dr.Tallarigo was a member of the Board, and Chairman from 2011, of Intercept Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq:ICPT). Intercept Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of novel therapeutics to treat liver diseases. Intercept's NASDAQ IPO in 2012 was one of the most successful ever and today the company is valued at $3.7 billion. From 2009 to 2014, Dr. Tallarigo also held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Genextra, a holding company focused on identifying innovative research and projects in life sciences to develop novel treatments and tools by creating successful business ventures, including a 30 per cent. shareholding in Intercept Pharmaceuticals. Under his leadership at Genextra, where he continues as a current Board member, Dr. Tallarigo raised finance to support the activities of several healthcare companies acting in a variety of therapeutic areas. 

From 1985 to 2008, Dr. Tallarigo worked at Eli Lilly, where he held various positions in areas of clinical research, pharmaceutical product management and marketing and general management, and latterly as its President of international operations. During his latter role at Eli Lilly, Dr. Tallarigo was responsible for $8 billion of revenues and $4 billion in profits, covering 140 countries and managing 12,000 employees. 

Dr. Tallarigo was formerly a member of the board of trustees for the University of Indianapolis and a member of the international committee of the Indiana University Foundation. He has a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Pisa (Italy) and a PMD from Harvard Business School in Boston. 

One-third of Dr Tallarigo's fees as Chairman, after tax, will be used to purchase shares in Oxford Biomedica on a monthly basis at the prevailing market price. At times this will require shares to be purchased during prohibited periods, as permitted by paragraph 17 of the Model Code to the Listing Rules. There are no further details to be disclosed on the appointment of Dr Tallarigo required under the Financial Services Authority Listing Rule 9.6.13.

Nick Rodgers, the current Chairman of Oxford BioMedica, will remain on the Board of Oxford BioMedica as a Non-Executive director for a transitional period until 30 April 2016.

Lorenzo Tallarigo said: "I am delighted to be joining Oxford BioMedica at such an exciting time for the company. The Group has significantly grown in value as it has transformed into a world-leading gene and cell therapy company with a pipeline of high value products, leading IP and unique manufacturing expertise surrounding Lentiviral vectors. I look forward to working with the Board and the wider team on the next phase of Oxford BioMedica's growth."  

Nick Rodgers added: "I am delighted that we have found, in Lorenzo, someone with the experience and skills to take Oxford BioMedica on the next stage of its journey. I am sure that he will, with the rest of the Board, steer the business to future successes which will bring significant benefit to current and future shareholders and patients. I know that I will leave Oxford BioMedica in very good hands and look forward to welcoming Lorenzo to the Group in February."

John Dawson, CEO, said: "I warmly welcome Lorenzo to Oxford BioMedica as Chairman.  Lorenzo brings significant experience from blue-chip industry and of major shareholder value creation to the Group. Oxford BioMedica is a world-leader in gene and cell therapy and Lorenzo's extensive experience in accelerating business growth, coupled with his demonstrated funding execution, will be invaluable as we look to build further upon Oxford BioMedica's unrivalled position."

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For further information, please contact:
Oxford BioMedica plc: John Dawson, Chief Executive Officer Tim Watts, Chief Financial Officer	Tel: [phone]
Financial and corporate communications enquiries: Consilium Strategic Communications Mary-Jane Elliott/Matthew Neal/Chris Welsh/Laura Thornton	Tel: [phone]

Notes for editors

About Oxford BioMedica^®

Oxford BioMedica plc (LSE: OXB) is a leading gene and cell therapy group with an unrivalled portfolio of gene therapy products in development and a platform of exclusive and pioneering technologies with which it designs, develops and manufactures unique gene-based medicines for some of world's largest pharmaceutical companies. Leveraging its proprietary LentiVector^® IP and gene delivery system technology platform and unique tumour antigen (5T4), Oxford BioMedica is advancing its pipeline of seven gene therapy products addressing diseases for which there are currently no treatments or that are inadequately treated today, including ocular and central nervous system disorders. OXB Solutions, the Group's industry-leading manufacturing and development business, provides services to collaborators and partners working in gene and cell therapy, including Novartis and Immune Design Corp.  In addition, the Group has licenced products and IP to Sanofi, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, MolMed, Sigma-Aldrich, Biogen Idec, Emergent BioSolutions and ImaginAb. Further information is available at www.oxfordbiomedica.co.uk.

 

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