DDDD.L Share News (DDDD)

(Sharecast News) - Biotherapeutic pharmaceutical company 4D Pharma announced the appointment of John Beck as its chief financial officer and member of its management team on Monday.
The AIM-traded firm said Beck would bring more than 30 years of experience in financial and biopharmaceutical industry management experience, including three previous positions as CFO of publicly-traded life sciences companies, where it said he had achieved "considerable" results in areas including finance, business and corporate development, strategy and commercialisation.

"I look forward to contributing to the success of 4D Pharma at this exciting stage in its development," John Beck said.

"4D's pioneering work to develop promising therapies across a number of disease areas from oncology to the gut-brain axis is clearly differentiated through its 'MicroRx' platform and LBP product candidates.

"With several key data readouts upcoming and our potential listing on Nasdaq, I believe 4D is well positioned to expand and enhance its investor base and drive further shareholder value for the remainder of 2021."

4D's board said Beck had "extensive" investor and public relations, corporate governance, regulatory, and fundraising expertise.

Most recently, he was the senior vice-president of finance and CFO of Ritter Pharmaceuticals from May 2018 to May 2020, where he oversaw its merger with Qualigen Therapeutics.

Prior to that, Beck served as executive manager and chief executive officer at Wellspring Water Technologies, and CEO of West Tech Medical from October 2015 to May 2018.

He was also the CFO and senior vice-president of finance and operations at Ardea Biosciences from February 2008 to June 2012, where he raised more than $160m in public financings, executed a $400m out-licensing transaction with Bayer Pharmaceuticals and completed a $1.2bn merger with AstraZeneca.

He also held positions as senior vice-president of finance, treasurer and CFO of Metabasis Therapeutics, and the director of finance at Neurocrine Biosciences, leading both through successful Nasdaq initial public offerings.

In addition, Beck currently serves on the board of directors of San Diego-based Artelo Biosciences as a scientific advisor and mentor to the University of San Diego's student-run 'TRITON' fund.

He holds a BA in accounting from the University of Washington, Seattle, a degree in theology from a Seattle-area seminary, and is a licensed certified public accountant with inactive status in the state of California.

"John will be an important addition to 4D Pharma's management team at such a pivotal time, as the company prepares to close our SPAC merger and begin trading on Nasdaq," said chief executive officer Duncan Peyton.

"His deep experience and financial expertise as a CFO of several publicly traded life sciences companies will be critical as we further grow our company and global footprint."

At 1251 GMT, shares in 4D Pharma were down 5% at 129.2p.