1 Aug 2019 07:00
01 August 2019
Open Orphan plc
("Open Orphan" or "the Company")
Directorate Changes
New Independent Non-Executive Director
Open Orphan, a European-focussed, rare and orphan drug consulting services platform, is pleased to announce the appointment to the board of David Kelly as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
David has extensive orphan drug company experience both in Europe and in the USA. He was Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Ireland at Horizon Therapeutics plc, a biopharmaceutical company listed on Nasdaq and headquartered in Dublin. David has an excellent combination of experience having worked in larger product focussed pharmaceutical companies and also in turning around smaller pharmaceutical companies. For example, he and his colleagues transformed AGI Therapeutics before selling it to Vidara Therapeutics which in turn was acquired by Horizon Therapeutics plc, a company with a current market capitalisation of $4.5 billion.
David also served as Senior Vice President of Warner Chilcott, a fully integrated specialty pharmaceutical company. While at Warner Chilcott, he led the company's successful IPO on Nasdaq. In addition, David also held roles in Elan Corporation and KPMG.
With David joining the Board and following the completion of the Company's acquisition of Open Orphan DAC, Tony Richardson has stepped down from the Board with effect from today. The Company would like to thank him for his service as a Director.
Professor Brendan Buckley, Chairman, Open Orphan, commented:
"We are delighted that David is joining the Board of Open Orphan. He has extensive experience in the orphan drug market and we are looking forward to having David work closely with management going forward as we seek to rapidly grow the company."
The following additional information is provided in accordance with paragraph (g) of Schedule Two to the AIM Rules for Companies and paragraph (g) of Schedule Two of the Euronext Growth Rules for Companies:
Full name: David George Kelly
Age: 58
Current Directorships / Partnerships: Iterum Therapeutics plc, Iterum Therapeutics International Limited, Andromeda Biotech Limited, Horizon Pharma Israel Holding Corp. Limited, Horizon Pharma Investment Limited, Horizon Pharma Ireland Limited.
Past Directorships / Partnerships (past 5 years): Horizon Pharma GMBH, Horizon Pharma Rheumatology Limited, Horizon Pharma Switzerland GMBH, Horizon Pharma Finance S.A.R.L, Horizon Pharma Services Limited, Horizon Pharma Finance Limited, Horizon Pharma Holdings 2 Limited, Hyperion Therapeutics Ireland Operating Limited, Hyperion Therapeutics Ireland Holdings Limited, Horizon Pharma Treasury Limited, Horizon Pharma Holdings Limited, Horizon Pharma Capital Limited, Hyperion Therapeutics International Operating Limited, Hyperion Therapeutics International Holdings Limited, Horizon Therapeutics plc, Horizon Pharma Aon Limited, Horizon Pharma Trí Limited, Horizon Pharma Dó Limited.
Enquiries:
Open Orphan Plc Tel: +353 (0)1 644 0007
Cathal Friel, Chief Executive Officer
Arden Partners (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker) Tel: +44 (0)20 7614 5900
John Llewellyn-Lloyd / Ruari McGirr / Benjamin Cryer
Davy (Euronext Growth Adviser and Joint Broker) Tel: +353 (0)1 679 6363
Anthony Farrell (Corporate Finance)
Camarco (Financial PR) Tel: +44 (0)20 3757 4980
Tom Huddart / Billy Clegg / Daniel Sherwen
Notes to Editors:
Open Orphan plc is a European-focussed, rare and orphan drug consulting services platform. The Company consists of four elements: a European clinical research organisation and consultancy; an orphan drug services business; a Virtual Rep and Data Access Platform consisting of physicians and key opinion leaders; and a Health Data Platform to partner with Patient Advocacy Groups. The Company is targeting rapid growth in one of the fastest growing sectors in the global pharmaceutical industry targeting under-supplied treatment for life threatening or very serious diseases and rare disorders.