Ivan Trifunovich, Ph.D., Appointed Executive Chairman of the Board New CEO to Lead WaferGen's Commercial Efforts in Single Cell Analysis
FREMONT, Calif., May 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: WGBS) announced today that the Company has appointed Rolland D. Carlson, Ph.D., President & CEO, effective immediately. Dr. Carlson assumes this role from Ivan Trifunovich, Ph.D., who has served as President & CEO of WaferGen since March 2012. Dr. Trifunovich has been appointed Executive Chairman of WaferGen.
"With the significant progress we have achieved with single cell analysis, and a commercial launch on the near-term horizon, now is the right time for this transition to occur," said Dr. Trifunovich. "Moreover, Rollie's extensive commercial and operational experience in the life science, molecular diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals industries makes him the ideal fit to lead WaferGen at this critical juncture in the Company's lifecycle. I will work closely with Rollie and take an active support role in shaping WaferGen's strategic direction."
"On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Ivan for his dedication and important contributions to WaferGen over the past three plus years," said Joel Kanter, Lead Independent Director of WaferGen's Board. "WaferGen's business is growing and Ivan's efforts have helped position the Company well for future success, especially in single cell analysis, and I am pleased that we will continue to benefit from his expertise in his new role as Executive Chairman. I am excited to welcome Rollie, an accomplished commercial leader and industry executive, to WaferGen."
Dr. Carlson has substantial leadership experience from startup to full P&L line management, sales and marketing, business and new product development, distribution management, and international operations. He has a successful track record in identifying new business opportunities, fund raising, developing customer driven strategies, and establishing strategic alliances.
Most recently, Dr. Carlson served as President & CEO of Asuragen, Inc., a privately-held molecular diagnostics company. He established company operations and developed 17 clinical products and services with sales of over $27 million in 2013. Also during his tenure, Dr. Carlson successfully raised $55 million in venture and research grant funding. Prior to this, he served in increasingly senior positions at Abbott Laboratories over a 20-year period. Dr. Carlson's various roles at Abbott included Global General Manager and Vice President Molecular Diagnostics of Vysis, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abbott Laboratories. In this position, he had full P&L responsibility and tripled sales with a five-fold increase in profit. Dr. Carlson also established strategic alliances with Genentech, Roche and Novartis. His last position at Abbott was Vice President, Business Development & Licensing, Global Medical Products, where he was responsible for M&A, licensing and divestiture of pharmaceutical products linked to medical device technologies.
"I am pleased to join WaferGen at such an exciting time in the Company's history," said Dr. Carlson. "Single cell analysis has the potential to be a truly revolutionary advancement in drug development, and I believe WaferGen has the industry-leading technology in this area. I look forward to working with Ivan and the entire WaferGen team as we prepare for the Company's commercial launch in single cell."
In connection with his appointment and as an inducement to join the Company, Dr. Carlson will receive an inducement option grant to purchase 150,000 shares of common stock. This option vests over a period of three years, with one-third of the shares subject to the option vesting on the first anniversary of the grant date, and the remaining two-thirds of such shares vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter, subject to Dr. Carlson's continued employment through each vesting date. Dr. Carlson also will receive an inducement restricted stock unit award covering 50,000 shares of common stock. This restricted stock unit award vests over a period of three years in three equal annual installments beginning on May 29, 2016, subject to Dr. Carlson's continued employment through each vesting date.
About WaferGen
WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc. is a life science company that offers innovative genomic solutions for clinical testing and research. The SmartChip MyDesign Real-Time PCR System is a high-throughput genetic analysis platform for profiling and validating molecular biomarkers via microRNA and mRNA gene expression profiling, as well as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. The SmartChip TE System is a novel product offering for target enrichment geared towards clinical Next-Gen sequencing (NGS). The Seq-Ready TE System, powered by SmartChipTM massively-parallel singleplex PCR technology, is an innovative one-step target enrichment and library preparation solution. The Company now also offers the Apollo 324 product line used in library preparation for NGS. These three complementary technologies offer a powerful set of tools enabling more accurate, faster and cheaper genetic analysis based on Next-Gen Sequencing and Real-Time PCR. In addition, WaferGen has established proof-of-concept for its single cell technology, which is based on the Company's SmartChip platform. WaferGen's scientists have successfully isolated single cells and produced excellent results in downstream processing of these individual cells, including RNA sequencing.
For additional information, please see http://www.wafergen.com
Forward Looking Statements
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INVESTOR CONTACTS:
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Brian Stollar
[email protected]
WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc.
Ivan Trifunovich
[email protected]
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SOURCE WaferGen Bio-systems, Inc.