Arcturus Appoints Senior VP of Business Development & Alliance Management and VP of Translational Biology
SAN DIEGO, Sept. 21, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arcturus Therapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ARCT), a leading RNA medicines company, today announced the appointment of Kevin T. Skol as Senior Vice President of Business Development & Alliance Management, and Suezanne Parker, Ph.D., as Vice President of Translational Biology.
In parallel with these appointments, KC Kummerfeld CPA is promoted to Vice President of Finance and Corporate Controller reporting to Interim CFO Andy Sassine.
Kevin Skol has nearly 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, primarily in corporate development, alliance management, strategy and licensing roles. He previously worked at RNA target-based companies Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Digital Gene Technologies and at specialty pharmaceutical companies Elan Corporation and Valeant Pharmaceuticals. At Ionis he led business development and licensing efforts that resulted in major pharmaceutical partnerships with Astra Zeneca, Roche, Janssen, Novartis and Biogen. The combined transaction value of collaborative agreements and partnerships which he led throughout his career is estimated at over $2 billion. Mr. Skol graduated with a B.A. from Yale University and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Suezanne Parker, Ph.D., brings over 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience in drug development from research/discovery through post-marketing. At Shire she led the nonclinical efforts for the marketing applications for Xiidra®, Vyvanse®, and Takhzyro®. Prior to Shire, Dr. Parker spent 13 years at Biogen Idec Pharmaceuticals where she was Director of Preclinical Safety, supporting marketed products to treat multiple sclerosis (Avonex®, Tysabri®, and Fampridine®) as well as developmental candidates from research through late stage development. She began her career in the industry at Vical Inc. where she led the preclinical efforts for some of the first human trials for plasmid DNA therapy. She has worked with several technologies (gene therapy, small molecules, biologics) and across multiple therapeutic areas (vaccines, infectious disease, neurology, immunology, oncology, ophthalmology and rare disease). Dr. Parker completed her postdoctoral studies at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, studying the viral pathogenesis of CNS diseases. She received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
About Arcturus Therapeutics Ltd.
Founded in 2013 and based in San Diego, California, Arcturus Therapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ: ARCT) is an RNA medicines company with enabling technologies – UNA Oligomer chemistry and LUNAR® lipid-mediated delivery. Arcturus’ diverse pipeline of RNA therapeutics includes programs pursuing rare diseases, Hepatitis B, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cystic fibrosis, and vaccines. Arcturus’ versatile RNA therapeutics platforms can be applied toward multiple types of RNA medicines including small interfering RNA, messenger RNA, replicon RNA, antisense RNA, microRNA and gene editing therapeutics. Arcturus owns LUNAR lipid-mediated delivery and Unlocked Nucleomonomer Agent (UNA) technology including UNA Oligomers, which are covered by its extensive patent portfolio (140 patents and patent applications, issued in the U.S., Europe, Japan, China and other countries). Arcturus’ proprietary UNA technology can be used to target individual genes in the human genome, as well as viral genes, and other species for therapeutic purposes. Arcturus’ commitment to the development of novel RNA therapeutics has led to partnerships with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Synthetic Genomics Inc., CureVac AG and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutics Inc. For more information, visit www.Arcturusrx.com, the content of which is not incorporated herein by reference.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that involve substantial risks and uncertainties for purposes of the safe harbor provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release regarding strategy, future operations, collaborations, future financial position, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Arcturus may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in any forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Actual results and performance could differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including without limitation, an inability to develop and market product candidates. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Arcturus’ Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2018 and in subsequent filings with, or submissions to, the SEC. Except as otherwise required by law, Arcturus disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
Contacts
Neda Safarzadeh
Arcturus Therapeutics Ltd.
(858) 900-2682
IR@ArcturusRx.com
Arcturus Investor Contacts
Michael Wood
LifeSci Advisors LLC
(646) 597-6983
mwood@lifesciadvisors.com
Source: Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc.