PASADENA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–$arwr–Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ARWR) today announced the appointment of James Hassard to the newly-created position of chief commercial officer. Mr. Hassard will be responsible for driving commercial strategy and building the team and sales and marketing infrastructure necessary to support Arrowhead’s growing pipeline of investigational RNAi therapeutics. He has 25 years of commercial-related experience in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Chris Anzalone, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Arrowhead, said: “We are excited to announce the appointment of Jim Hassard as Arrowhead’s chief commercial officer. He is a seasoned and accomplished global biopharmaceutical professional who has been responsible for the launch of and commercial activities around multiple products. Jim’s experience and guidance will be critical as we advance our robust pipeline of RNAi therapeutics that target diseases across multiple therapeutic areas.”
James Hassard, chief commercial officer of Arrowhead, added: “Arrowhead has an enormous opportunity to make a significant difference in so many patients’ lives with its promising pipeline of RNAi therapeutics, which have yielded very compelling results to date. The company is at an exciting time in its corporate development, as it intends to have three pivotal studies ongoing this year, and as the commercial strategy and team begin to form. I am pleased to lead that strategic process and contribute to the future growth of the company.”
Mr. Hassard served as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Market Access at Coherus BioSciences since 2016, where he was instrumental in building the commercial organization and commercial capabilities. He co-led the launch of Coherus’ first product, a biosimilar, pegfilgrastim; one of the most successful pharmaceutical launches of 2019. Prior to his tenure at Coherus, Mr. Hassard served as Vice President of Marketing at Medivation, prior to and through its acquisition by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. From 1999 to 2016, he held multiple increasingly senior commercial roles at Amgen, Inc., across sales and marketing, domestic and international, including an assignment as General Manager of Amgen Portugal. He was responsible for the launch, growth, and subsequent life-cycle management of several oncology and nephrology products, including darbepoetin alfa and cinacalcet. Prior to his time at Amgen, Mr. Hassard spent several years at Schering Plough Canada, in sales and marketing roles, in the therapeutic areas of oncology, cardiovascular and hepatitis. He received his Bachelor of Science in pharmacology from the University of Toronto and a master’s in business administration from Nova Southeastern University, Florida.
In connection with the employment of Mr. Hassard, as inducement to entering into employment with the Company, effective on January 6, 2020, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved an “inducement” grant under Rule 5635(c)(4) of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules. The restricted stock unit grant entitles Mr. Hassard to receive 125,000 shares, vesting in four equal annual installments. Mr. Hassard will be eligible for new grants after the third anniversary of his date of hire. The grant is outside of the Company’s stockholder-approved equity incentive plans.
About Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.
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Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act:
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as of the date hereof. Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors and uncertainties, including the safety and efficacy of our product candidates, the duration and impact of regulatory delays in our clinical programs, our ability to finance our operations, the likelihood and timing of the receipt of future milestone and licensing fees, the future success of our scientific studies, our ability to successfully develop and commercialize drug candidates, the timing for starting and completing clinical trials, rapid technological change in our markets, and the enforcement of our intellectual property rights. Our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We assume no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances.
Source: Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Contacts
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Vince Anzalone, CFA
626-304-3400
ir@arrowheadpharma.com
Investors and Media:
LifeSci Advisors, LLC
Brian Ritchie
212-915-2578
britchie@lifesciadvisors.com
www.lifesciadvisors.com