LEUVEN, Belgium, Jan. 7, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ThromboGenics NV (Euronext Brussels: THR), an integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmic medicines, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dominique Vanfleteren as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with immediate effect.
Dominique Vanfleteren has over 25 years of experience in senior finance, operational, control and reporting roles within quoted international biopharmaceutical companies.
Before joining ThromboGenics, Dominique spent 12 years at UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, where he held a number of international managerial finance positions, the latest being the CFO of UCB's Asia Pacific Operations, operating from Brussels and Shanghai.
Prior to joining UCB, Dominique worked for GSK during 16 years. He held a number of senior finance positions in Brussels and London, his latest being Finance Director of GSK's Diversified Healthcare Services Europe.
Dr Patrik De Haes, Chief Executive Officer of Thrombogenics, said: "I am delighted to welcome Dominique Vanfleteren to Thrombogenics as our new CFO. Dominique is bringing significant financial experience from within the biopharmaceutical industry and I am confident that he will prove a great addition to our senior management team as we look to execute our strategy as announced in mid-2014."
Commenting on his appointment, Dominique Vanfleteren said: "I am very pleased to be joining ThromboGenics and excited to be able to contribute to the Company's future success based on the further development of JETREA®, as well as on its broader strategy of developing innovative medicines for the treatment of ophthalmic diseases focused on diabetic retinopathy."
END
For further information please contact:
ThromboGenics
Wouter Piepers,
Global Head of Corporate Communications & IR
+32 16 75 13 10 / +32 478 33 56 32
[email protected]
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
David Dible/ Malcolm Robertson
Tel: +44 20 7638 9571
[email protected]
About ThromboGenics
ThromboGenics is an integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmic and oncology medicines. The Company's lead product, JETREA® (ocriplasmin), has been approved by the US FDA for the treatment of symptomatic VMA and was launched in January 2013.
ThromboGenics signed a strategic partnership with Alcon, a division of Novartis, for the commercialization of JETREA® outside the United States.
ThromboGenics is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has offices in Iselin, NJ (US) and Dublin, Ireland. The Company is listed on the NYSE Euronext Brussels exchange under the symbol THR. More information is available at www.thrombogenics.com.
About JETREA ® (ocriplasmin)
JETREA® (ocriplasmin) is a truncated form of human plasmin. In the US, JETREA® is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic VMA. In Europe, JETREA® is indicated for the treatment of vitreomacular traction (VMT), including when associated with macular hole of diameter less than or equal to 400 microns. JETREA® is a selective proteolytic enzyme that cleaves fibronectin, laminin and collagen, three major components of the vitreoretinal interface that play an important role in vitreomacular adhesion.
JETREA® has been evaluated in two multi-center, randomized, double-masked Phase III trials conducted in the U.S. and Europe involving 652 patients with vitreomacular adhesion. Both studies met the primary endpoint of resolution of VMA at day 28.
JETREA's Phase III program found that 26.5% of patients treated with ocriplasmin saw resolution of VMA, compared with 10.1% of patients receiving placebo (p<0.01). The Phase III program also showed that JETREA was generally well tolerated with most adverse events being transient and mild in severity.
Important information about forward-looking statements
Certain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking". Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and, accordingly, entail and are influenced by various risks and uncertainties. The Company therefore cannot provide any assurance that such forward-looking statements will materialize and does not assume an obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties affecting the business and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement is contained in the Company's Annual Report.
This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities or assets of ThromboGenics in any jurisdiction. No securities of ThromboGenics may be offered or sold within the United States without registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or in compliance with an exemption therefrom, and in accordance with any applicable U.S. state securities laws.