29 Jul Complix appoints Hans Schikan as Chairman
Hasselt, July 29 2015 – Complix, a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing a pipeline of transformative protein therapeutics, called Alphabodies™, mainly focused on oncology and autoimmune diseases, today announces the appointment of Hans Schikan as Chairman of its Board of Directors.
Hans Schikan has more than 25 years’ experience in senior management and Board level positions within the global biopharmaceutical industry. He was most recently the CEO of Prosensa, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on novel treatments for rare diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy and Huntington’s disease, using its RNA modulation platform. Prosensa was listed on NASDAQ (RNA) in June 2013, and was acquired by BioMarin early 2015 for up to USD 840 million. Before joining Prosensa, Hans worked at Genzyme for five years in various executive roles, including as Vice President for Global Marketing and Strategic Development of Genzyme’s product portfolio for rare genetic diseases. Prior to Genzyme, he spent 17 years at Organon, both at corporate level and in country operations which included assignments in Asia and Europe.
Hans is currently an Independent Member of the Supervisory Board of Prosensa Holding, Board Member of Hansa Medical AB (publ), Non-executive Director of Sobi (Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, publ), Board Member of Wilson Therapeutics AB and Board Member of the Core Team of the Dutch Top Sector Life Sciences & Health. He is past Chairman of Nefarma, the Dutch Association of Research Based Pharmaceutical Industry and was previously also Member of the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s Emerging Companies Section Governing Board. He has a PharmD from Utrecht University.
Dr Mark Vaeck, CEO of Complix, said: “I am delighted to welcome Hans to our Board of Directors. His wide-ranging expertise will be a great asset to the Company as we seek to expand and accelerate the development of our Alphabody pipeline and, in particular, our cell penetrating Alphabodies for the treatment of cancer.”
Mr. Hans Schikan added: “I am excited about joining the Complix Board; both the team and the science are great. Complix has every ingredient needed to transform the treatment options for patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases and I feel very privileged to be in a position to contribute.”
It is estimated there are more than 1,000 intracellular disease targets which are known to be involved in important disease processes, but are currently undruggable by conventional therapeutics. Complix’s cell penetrating Alphabodies (CPABs) have the unique capacity to enter cells effectively and modulate intracellular protein-to-protein interactions (PPIs). The Company has generated compelling data with its lead program against the intracellular cancer target MCL-1. MCL-1 is an important regulator of cellular apoptosis and is often over-expressed in cancer cells thereby preventing them from dying.
About Complix
Complix is a biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of transformative protein therapeutics, called Alphabodies™, mainly focused on oncology and autoimmune diseases.
Alphabodies are a revolutionary class of protein therapeutics that have the potential to address a wide range of disease targets, in particular intracellular targets that are considered undruggable by current drug formats, such as antibodies or small chemicals. Complix´ current R&D efforts are mainly focused on the development of Cell Penetrating Alphabodies (CPABs) that have the unique capacity to enter tumor cells effectively and selectively modulate intracellular protein-to-protein interactions (PPIs), which play a key role in the initiation and progression of cancer.
Complix has established a strong intellectual property position protecting the Alphabody™ platform and its emerging product portfolio through the filing of multiple broad patent applications. Alphabody-based therapeutics are independent of antibody-based patent claims and offer a unique freedom-to-operate position.
Since its founding in 2008 Complix has raised a total of €26 million in funding (approximately US$ 34 million), including a €12 million B round in June 2013 and a €7 million Series A equity round in 2010.
Contacts
Complix NV
Dr. Mark Vaeck, CEO
+32 9 261 69 40