DUBLIN, IRELAND--(Marketwired - November 06, 2014) - Horizon Pharma plc (NASDAQ: HZNP), a specialty biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of products in arthritis, inflammation and orphan diseases, announced today the Company's Board has appointed John J. Kody, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, reporting to Timothy P. Walbert, chairman, president and chief executive officer, effective November 24, 2014. Mr. Kody brings more than 20 years of executive, general management and commercial experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries to Horizon Pharma. He will also be a member of the Company's executive committee.
Mr. Kody was most recently president, Leica Biosystems Richmond Inc., a subsidiary of Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR), focused on advancing cancer diagnostics to improve lives. His role included full P&L responsibility and the leadership and integration of multiple global acquisitions in the United States and Europe.
"We are extremely pleased to welcome John to our executive management team," said Timothy P. Walbert, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Horizon Pharma plc. "John's extensive executive, general management and commercial experience as well as leading and integrating global healthcare businesses throughout his career will be a great benefit as we continue to grow our company both organically and through acquisitions."
"I am very excited about the opportunity to join Horizon Pharma. We have a significant opportunity to continue to drive the growth of our base business through the addition of new products such as ACTIMMUNE® and PENNSAID® 2%," said Mr. Kody. "I also look forward to working with the executive team as we look to identify and acquire additional products and/or companies."
Before joining Leica in 2010, Mr. Kody held various vice president positions at Baxter Healthcare Corporation, including his role as vice president of innovative therapies, which focused on the commercialization of therapies that change clinical practice. Other responsibilities included management of global marketing, health economics, business strategy and acquisition integration.
Before joining Baxter in 2006, Mr. Kody was with Abbott, first as a business unit director and then as sales director, leading Abbott's first $1 billion pharmaceutical brand, Depakote®(1). Previous to Abbott, he was director of strategy for the $5 billion neuroscience division at Eli Lilly and Company, which included Prozac®(2) and Zyprexa®(2). Earlier in his career, he was employed with Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. and Ford Motor Company.
Mr. Kody received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.
About Horizon Pharma plc
Horizon Pharma plc is a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on improving patients' lives by identifying, developing, acquiring and commercializing differentiated products that address unmet medical needs. The Company markets a portfolio of products in arthritis, inflammation and orphan diseases. Horizon's U.S. marketed products are ACTIMMUNE® (interferon gamma-1b), DUEXIS® (ibuprofen/famotidine), RAYOS® (prednisone) delayed-release tablets and VIMOVO® (naproxen/esomeprazole). The Company expects to begin marketing PENNSAID® (diclofenac sodium topical solution) 2% w/w in the United States in January 2015. Horizon's global headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland. For more information, please visit www.horizonpharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's growth strategy and prospects, the expected contributions of Mr. Kody and the expected timing of commercializing PENNSAID 2% in the United States. These forward-looking statements are based on management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and actual results may differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks regarding Horizon's ability to commercialize products successfully, including risks relating to availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement and pricing from government and third party payers, Horizon's ability to enforce its intellectual property rights to its products, whether Horizon will be able to execute on its growth strategy of acquiring additional products or realize the anticipated benefits of recent and future acquisitions, and the timing and Horizon's ability to complete actions necessary to commercialize PENNSAID 2% in the United States. For a further description of these and other risks facing the Company, please see the risk factors described in the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in those filings. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these statements, except as may be required by law.