-Graves and Maki Bring Commercial and Business Strategy Leadership Experience-
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pulmatrix, a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing a new class of therapies for the treatment and prevention of infectious and progressive respiratory diseases, today announced it has appointed two industry senior executives, Kurt Graves and David Maki, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
“Kurt and Dave are proven leaders within their respective areas of commercial, corporate development and business operations, and we are extremely fortunate to have them as part of the Pulmatrix organization,” said Robert Connelly, CEO of Pulmatrix. “Their vast experience and expertise will help us navigate our way through a broad set of opportunities with Pulmatrix’s unique products and platform technology, particularly as we advance our lead program into clinical trials and establish our initial partnerships.”
Mr. Graves is a global industry leader with more than twenty years of US and global general management experience in top-tier US and European based pharmaceutical and biotech companies. He has successfully built and managed several of the largest multi-billion dollar franchises in the industry and developed and launched more than 10 blockbuster brands in a broad range of general medicine, specialty and orphan disease areas. In addition to driving dynamic top and bottom-line growth in global markets, Mr. Graves also played a key leadership role in building two highly successful early stage companies; at Astra Merck Pharmaceuticals and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Most recently Mr. Graves served as EVP, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Corporate and Strategic Development at Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Prior to his tenure at Vertex, he spent nearly ten years at Novartis Pharmaceuticals, most recently as Global Head of the General Medicines Business & Chief Marketing Officer for the Pharmaceuticals division. Prior to his tenure at Novartis, Mr. Graves held several commercial and general management positions at Merck and Astra Merck/Astra Pharmaceuticals where he spent most of his time leading the Business Unit responsible for Prilosec, and Nexium.
“The commercial opportunities targeting large segments of unmet medical need that Pulmatrix has available are nothing short of remarkable,” said Mr. Graves, director, Pulmatrix. “The science has transformational potential for patients and I am honored to contribute my experience and insights at this exciting stage of the Company’s development.”
Mr. Maki has been active in the life sciences venture community for over a decade, having co-founded Altitude Life Science Ventures, and having previously served as a Principal with Perennial Ventures, and a Vice President with Tredegar Investments. Prior to moving into venture capital, he spent almost two decades at Seed IP Law Group, focusing upon IP strategic planning for healthcare companies. Mr. Maki served as the senior partner within the firm’s biotechnology group, which represented more than 60 life science companies, and also held the positions of Managing Partner and Financial Partner. Mr. Maki is renowned as an industry expert in the development and execution of intellectual property strategies in the healthcare sector.
“Pulmatrix has developed a clear advantage in the field of targeted host therapies, built upon the efforts of an extraordinary team of highly experienced scientists, drug developers and business professionals. The Pulmatrix technology platform is extremely versatile, simultaneously providing a number of product and partnership opportunities, and the company is now well-positioned to commercially exploit this unique opportunity. I look forward to contributing my knowledge and perspective at this exciting stage of the Company’s development,” said Mr. Maki, director, Pulmatrix.
About Pulmatrix
Pulmatrix is discovering and developing a new class of host targeted therapies that treat and prevent a broad range of infectious and progressive respiratory diseases by harnessing the airway and lungs own natural biophysical properties and host defense mechanisms. Pulmatrix’s innovative technology is pathogen-independent so it has broad potential to treat and prevent a wide range of respiratory diseases, including respiratory infections such as influenza; ventilator acquired pneumonia (VAP) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as progressive respiratory diseases such as COPD, asthma, and cystic fibrosis. The Pulmatrix technology is based on the ground-breaking scientific work of renowned Harvard Professor David Edwards and Pulmatrix scientists, and is financed by leading life science investors Polaris Venture Partners, 5AM Ventures, ARCH Venture Partners, and the Novartis Bioventures Fund. For additional information about the Company, please visit http://www.pulmatrix.com.
CONTACT:
The Yates Network
Kathryn Morris, 845-635-9828
KEYWORDS: United States North America Massachusetts
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Health Biotechnology Infectious Diseases Pharmaceutical
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