REG - Destiny Pharma PLC - Dr Debra Barker Appointed Interim CEO

Destiny PharmaAnnouncement

25/05/2023 07:00

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RNS Number : 5811A  Destiny Pharma PLC  25 May 2023

 

Board Changes

Dr Debra Barker Appointed Interim CEO

 

Brighton, United Kingdom - 25th May 2023: Destiny Pharma plc (AIM: DEST), a
clinical stage innovative biotechnology company focused on the development of
novel medicines that can prevent life-threatening infections, today announces,
ahead of the AGM, that Neil Clark has decided to step down as Chief Executive
Officer to pursue new challenges. Neil will also step down from the board with
immediate effect.

 

Dr Debra Barker, who is currently a Non-Executive Director, will become
interim CEO until a permanent replacement is appointed. Neil will continue to
support the business for a limited period to ensure an orderly handover. Dr
Barker has a wealth of experience as a senior executive and Board director in
life science companies including the anti-infectives sector having held key
roles at Novartis and Polyphor, in addition to roles at Roche, GSK and
Polyneuron.

 

Nick Rodgers, Chairman of Destiny Pharma, said: "Neil's contribution to the
Company over the last six years has been significant. Having recently led the
exclusive collaboration and co-development agreement for NTCD-M3 with Sebela
Pharmaceuticals, raised finance, achieved the publication of landmark XF-73
Phase 2 data, and positive results from the SPOR-COV research, he has decided
that it is the right time for him to move on to a fresh challenge. He leaves
the business well positioned with a strong balance sheet and a diversified,
late-stage pipeline. On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Neil for the
commitment he has shown in delivering Destiny's strategy over the last 6 years
since he led the IPO of the business in 2017.

 

"Debra joined Destiny in 2020 and knows the business well. Her experience of
working in various roles at big pharma will play an integral part in
delivering the next phase of Destiny Pharma's strategy, as we look to maximise
the value of our strong product pipeline."

 

Dr Debra Barker, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Destiny Pharma, said: "The
business is well positioned to build on the progress that has been achieved
and there are significant opportunities that lie ahead for the Company. My
primary focus will be on advancing partnership discussions for XF-73 nasal and
I look forward to leading Destiny until the Board appoints a permanent
successor to drive the business through its next phase of growth."

 

For further information, please contact:

Destiny Pharma plc

Dr Debra Barker, CEO

Shaun Claydon, CFO

+44 (0)1273 704 440
pressoffice@destinypharma.com (about:blank)

 

Optimum Strategic Communications  (about:blank)
Mary Clark / Nick Bastin / Jonathan Edwards / Eleanor Cooper

+44 (0) 203 922 0891
DestinyPharma@optimumcomms.com (about:blank)

 

finnCap Ltd (Nominated Advisor and Joint Broker)
Geoff Nash / George Dollemore, Corporate Finance

Alice Lane / Nigel Birks / Harriet Ward, ECM

+44 (0) 207 220 0500

 

Shore Capital (Joint Broker)

Daniel Bush / James Thomas / Lucy Bowden

+44 (0) 207 408 4090

 

Dr Debra Barker biography

 

Dr Barker has worked at Novartis, Roche, GSK (then SmithKline Beecham) and
most recently in C-Suite roles at Polyphor and Polyneuron. Dr Barker is
currently Senior Independent Director at Arix Bioscience, a global venture
capital company and holds additional Non-Executive Director positions at
BerGenBio ASA, an immune-oncology company and CureVac AG a clinical stage
biopharmaceutical company with a proprietary RNA technology platform. At
Novartis Dr Barker held several senior roles including Head of Development for
Anti-Infectives, Immunology and Transplantation. Dr Barker was also the
medical lead for Swiss based anti-infective specialist Polyphor's highly
successful IPO on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

 

 

About Destiny Pharma

 

Destiny Pharma is a clinical stage, innovative biotechnology company focused
on the development of novel medicines that can prevent life-threatening
infections. Its pipeline has novel microbiome-based biotherapeutics and XF
drug clinical assets including NTCD-M3, a Phase 3 ready treatment for the
prevention of C. difficile infection (CDI) recurrence which is the leading
cause of hospital acquired infection in the US and also XF-73 nasal gel, which
has recently completed a positive Phase 2b clinical trial targeting the
prevention of post-surgical staphylococcal hospital infections including MRSA.
It is also co-developing SPOR-COV, a novel, biotherapeutic product for the
prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections and has earlier
grant funded XF research projects.

For further information on the company, please visit www.destinypharma.com
(http://www.destinypharma.com)

 

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