Dr. Jeff Jonas Appointed President of Shire Regenerative Medicine
Business and Joins Shire Leadership Team
LA JOLLA, California,
November 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPG), announces that Jeff Jonas M.D. has been appointed President of
Shire's Regenerative Medicine (RM) business, effective November 15, 2012. Jeff will report to
Shire Chief Executive, Angus
Russell, and will join the Shire Leadership Team.
After a varied career in research & development, commercial
and entrepreneurial business roles, Jeff joined Shire in
July 2008 as leader of the Specialty
Pharmaceuticals (SP) Research & Development (R&D) team.
Jeff has been closely involved with the RM business since Shire
acquired it as Advanced BioHealing in June
2011. In addition to his role as head of the SP
R&D team, Jeff has been leading the RM R&D team and has
been a member of the RM leadership team. Jeff will lead the
newly established RM team to take the business to its next stage of
growth.
Jeff's role as head of the SP R&D team will be filled by
Arnaud Partiot M.D. Arnaud is a qualified psychiatrist and
has been a senior member of the Shire SP team in various clinical
research & development, medical affairs and commercial roles
since joining Shire in 2004.
Kevin Rakin, who led Advanced
BioHealing Inc. since 2007 and during its integration into Shire,
is stepping down from his position as Regenerative Medicine
President and from the Shire Leadership Team to pursue new career
interests. Kevin will be available to provide transitional
support through 28 December 2012.
Says Shire Chief Executive, Angus
Russell:
"We are pleased with the progress we are making in transforming
our Regenerative Medicine business. Jeff's insight and
experience will enable us to build on this as we shape this
business for future growth. We have great ambition for this
business and we're committed to seeing those ambitions
realised."
"I'd like to recognise Kevin
Rakin as a leader of this business during its integration
into Shire; and we wish him well in his new endeavours. "
Says Jeff Jonas:
"Shire's Regenerative Medicine business has so much potential;
it serves a growing patient population with unmet needs and we have
an excellent, differentiated product in DERMAGRAFT, already
commercialised for diabetic foot ulcers. We're exploring
other possible indications for DERMAGRAFT and we believe we can
expand its use into new geographies. The science and
technology in regenerative medicine is developing well and we see
many opportunities to acquire other exciting assets to build a
robust and attractive pipeline. Leading this business to
greater heights is a very exciting opportunity for me."
Further background on Jeff
Jonas
Before joining Shire in 2008, he served as Executive Vice
President at Isis Pharmaceuticals in charge of clinical and
pre-clinical development, regulatory affairs, quality assurance and
compliance, and had broad responsibility for the product
pipeline.
Prior to this, Jeff was Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice
President at Forest Laboratories, Inc.
He began his career at Upjohn Laboratories where he advanced to
the position of Chief Medical Officer.
Jeff has also been a successful entrepreneur. He founded and led
AVAX Technologies, a leader in autologous cell therapy and
individualized therapy. Dr. Jonas led AVAX through several
successful financings, including an initial public offering in
1997.
In 2001, he co-founded SCEPTOR Industries, a biotechnology
company involved in biodefense surveillance.
Jeff has published more than 70 scientific papers and chapters
and has received a number of awards.
Jeff received his M.D. from Harvard Medical
School and completed a residency in psychiatry at
Harvard. Shortly thereafter, he was
appointed Chief Resident in psychopharmacology at McLean Hospital,
Harvard Medical School.
Notes to editors
SHIRE PLC
Shire enables people with
life-altering conditions to lead better lives.
Through our deep understanding of patients' needs, we develop
and provide healthcare in the areas of:
- Behavioral Health and Gastro Intestinal conditions
- Rare Diseases
- Regenerative Medicine
as well as other symptomatic conditions treated by specialist
physicians.
We aspire to imagine and lead the future of healthcare, creating
value for patients, physicians, policymakers, payors and our
shareholders.
For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's
website: http://www.shire.com.
"SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE
PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Statements included herein that are not historical facts are
forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve
a number of risks and uncertainties and are subject to change at
any time. In the event such risks or uncertainties materialize, the
Company's results could be materially adversely affected. The risks
and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks associated
with: the inherent uncertainty of research, development, approval,
reimbursement, manufacturing and commercialization of the Company's
Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Human Genetic Therapies and Regenerative
Medicine products, as well as the ability to secure new products
for commercialization and/or development; government regulation of
the Company's products; the Company's ability to manufacture its
products in sufficient quantities to meet demand; the impact of
competitive therapies on the Company's products; the Company's
ability to register, maintain and enforce patents and other
intellectual property rights relating to its products; the
Company's ability to obtain and maintain government and other
third-party reimbursement for its products; and other risks and
uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
For further information please contact:
Investor Relations
Eric Rojas
erojas@shire.com
+1-781-482-0999
Sarah Elton-Farr
seltonfarr@shire.com
+44-1256-894157
Media
Jessica Mann (Corporate)
jmann@shire.com
+44-1256-894-280
Lindsey Hart (Regenerative Medicine)
lhart@shire.com
+1-615-250-3311
SOURCE Shire plc