Last checked at 13 Oct 2021 07:00
Synairgen plc
('Synairgen' or the 'Company')
Synairgen announces the appointment of
Gareth Walters, Ph.D. as Chief Regulatory Officer
Brings more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries and a deep understanding of global regulatory strategy and business leadership
Southampton, UK - 13 October 2021: Synairgen plc (LSE: SNG), the respiratory company developing inhaled interferon beta for the treatment of severe viral lung infections, today announces the appointment of Gareth Walters, Ph.D. to the newly-created role of Chief Regulatory Officer in preparation for SNG001 regulatory submissions.
Richard Marsden, CEO of Synairgen, commented: "We're delighted to welcome Gareth to our growing team. His experience and expertise in global regulatory strategy will be invaluable as we prepare for SNG001 regulatory submissions."
Dr. Walters brings more than 30 years' expertise of global regulatory strategy to Synairgen: from preclinical, to marketing authorisation, through to post-approval and commercialisation. Before joining Synairgen, Dr. Walters served as Global Regulatory Affairs Head (Research & Early Development) and Head of European Regulatory Affairs for Chugai Pharmaceuticals, where he led strategic and operational regulatory activities in Europe, Japan and the US. Prior to his time at Chugai, Dr. Walters held various senior regulatory and executive management and Board roles at several pharmaceutical and biotech companies, as well as commercial and clinical positions at Roche. During this time he played a key role in bringing innovative new medicines to the market, including in the US and Europe.
Gareth Walters, Ph.D., newly appointed Chief Regulatory Officer of Synairgen added: "I am thrilled to be joining Synairgen at such a pivotal moment for the Company. The anticipated conclusion of the Phase III trial in the coming months for SNG001 is a critical milestone for the Company in its goal of bringing interferon beta to hospitalised patients with COVID-19. I look forward to collaborating closely with the team and driving a global regulatory programme that helps deliver a therapy to patients that has the potential to reduce the burden on hospitals and healthcare systems."
-ENDS-
For further enquiries, please contact:
Synairgen plc
Brooke Clarke, Head of Communications
Tel: + 44 (0) 23 8051 2800
Consilium Strategic Communications (UK Financial Media and Investor Relations)
Mary-Jane Elliott, Jessica Hodgson, Lucy Featherstone
synairgen@consilium-comms.com
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700
MKC Strategies, LLC (US Media Relations)
Mary Conway
MConway@MKCStrategies.com
Tel: +1 516 606 6545
Notes for Editors
About Synairgen
Synairgen is a UK-based respiratory company focused on drug discovery, development and commercialisation. The Company's primary focus is developing SNG001 (inhaled interferon beta) for the treatment of COVID-19 as potentially the first host-targeted broad-spectrum antiviral treatment delivered directly into the lungs. Granted Fast Track status from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and deemed an Urgent Public Health study by the UK's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Synairgen's Phase III clinical programme is currently evaluating nebulised SNG001 in patients across 17 countries. In a Phase II trial in hospitalised COVID-19 patients, SNG001 demonstrated a greater than twofold chance of recovery to 'no limitation of activities' versus placebo.1
Founded by University of Southampton Professors Sir Stephen Holgate, Donna Davies and Ratko Djukanovic in 2003, Synairgen is quoted on AIM (LSE: SNG). For more information about Synairgen, please see www.synairgen.com.
1 - https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(20)30511-7/fulltext