– UK, Oxford – Circassia Pharmaceuticals Plc (LON: CIR), a speciality biopharmaceutical company focused on respiratory disease, today announced the appointment of Jonathan Emms to the newly-created role of Chief Operating Officer. As COO he will further strengthen Circassia’s commercial focus and lead the Company’s global commercial strategy and operational management.
He will also join the Company’s Board as an Executive Director when he joins Circassia on 2 September 2019. At the same time Circassia’s Senior Vice President of R&D, Dr Rod Hafner, will step down from the Board after 11 years as a Director, reflecting the Company’s commercial focus now the approval process for Duaklir and Tudorza’s sNDA are complete. He will remain a key member of Circassia’s Senior Management Team and will continue in his role leading the Company’s business development, supply chain, medical affairs, regulatory and quality activities.
Steve Harris, Circassia’s CEO said: “We are delighted to welcome Jonathan to Circassia. With his impressive track record building and leading successful commercial operations around the world, including for many years in the United States, he will make a valuable contribution to the Company as we continue our drive for growth. With our preparations well advanced for the forthcoming US launch of Duaklir, the ongoing establishment of our new Chinese sales team in the marketplace and our growing commercial presence in Europe, we look forward to Jonathan leading our commercial strategy. At the same time, we thank Rod for his major contribution to the Company, managing Circassia’s input into the successful Duaklir NDA and Tudorza sNDA and leading our R&D activities over many years. Following our recent transition into a commercially-focused business, we are delighted that Rod will continue as a member of Circassia’s Senior Management Team, leading our business development, supply chain, medical affairs, regulatory and quality activities.”
Dr Francesco Granata, Circassia’s Non-Executive Chairman, said: “I would like to warmly welcome Jonathan to Circassia and to the Board, and we look forward to benefiting from his extensive commercial expertise gained in the US, Europe and globally. As Circassia completes its transition into a commercially-focused organisation, Jonathan will play a key role in driving both our commercial and operational capabilities. At the same time, I would like to thank Rod for his many years of contribution to the Board, and we are delighted he will continue to play an important role in the Company’s leadership team supporting our commercial operations. Circassia has undergone a period of major change over recent years, and these Board changes reflect the Company’s unwavering focus on building a successful commercial business.”
About Jonathan Emms
Jonathan Emms is an established commercial leader who brings significant senior-level experience of the global pharmaceutical industry to Circassia. Prior to joining the Company, he was Chief Commercial Officer for Pfizer’s Internal Medicines organisation, where he led commercial activities across the company’s global operations. Previously, he held a number of senior positions at Pfizer, including Head of Marketing for its Global Established Pharmaceutical Business and Head of Marketing for Specialty Care, Europe, and oversaw the UK launch of Spiriva under the company’s co-promotion agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim. He was also Country Manager in the UK, Pfizer’s largest affiliate outside the United States, where he had responsibility for manufacturing, research and commercial operations and during his tenure was elected President of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. Prior to his time at Pfizer, Jonathan held several roles of increasing responsibility at GSK, where he gained significant respiratory experience, including leading the UK launch of Serevent in COPD.
Jonathan Emms, Circassia’s COO, said: “I am thrilled to join Circassia at this exciting time of transition and growth for the Company. I am impressed with the team’s ambition and clear drive to build a highly successful speciality pharmaceutical business and am certain that with my international commercial experience and knowledge of the respiratory market I can make a significant contribution helping Circassia achieve its goal. With a strong commercial platform, the imminent launch of its next product in the US and ambition to further grow its portfolio, I am confident Circassia is well-positioned for long-term success.”
He holds a BSc in Materials Technology from Coventry University, UK.
About Circassia
Circassia is a world-class speciality pharmaceutical business focused on respiratory disease. The Company sells its market-leading NIOX asthma management products directly to specialists in the United States, United Kingdom, China and Germany, and in a wide range of other countries through its network of partners. In the United States, Circassia has a commercial collaboration with AstraZeneca in which it has the commercial rights to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treatments Tudorza and Duaklir. Circassia also has the US and Chinese commercial rights to the late-stage ventilator-compatible nitric oxide product AirNOvent.
For more information: https://www.circassia.com
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