Pharmalink announces the appointment of a new CEO

Pharmalink has appointed Ms Aguiar-Lucander to lead the Company’s expansion and strategic development, following the clinical success to date of Nefecon®: a Phase 3 ready compound with orphan designation. Ms Aguiar-Lucander will, in conjunction with the Pharmalink team, pursue a range of initiatives, including raising private or public capital for the Phase 3 trial, expanding the Company’s development platform, in-licensing of additional compounds as well as partnering. Pharmalink’s current CEO, Dr Johan Häggblad, will take on the role of COO and will continue to lead clinical and product development.

Prior to joining Pharmalink Ms. Aguiar-Lucander was Partner and COO of Omega Fund Management, an international healthcare fund based in Boston. She was previously a Partner at the venture group of 3i Group plc, where she managed the European and US legacy healthcare and technology portfolios, and had responsibility for the group’s public holdings.

Prior to this Ms. Aguiar-Lucander was European Group Head and Managing Director at a US based global investment bank. She has more than 12 years of corporate finance experience, including merger and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and raising private and public capital for growth companies in Europe and the US. She has held senior management positions in a technology growth company and has significant corporate board experience in both private and public companies. Ms Aguiar-Lucander holds a BA in Finance from Stockholm School of Economics and a MBA from INSEAD.

Lennart Hansson of Industrifonden, Pharmalink’s lead investor representative, said: “We are delighted with the appointment of Renee as CEO at Pharmalink. Her appointment comes at a key time for the Company, now that it has completed its highly successful NEFIGAN Phase 2b clinical trial with Nefecon® in patients with IgA nephropathy at risk of end stage renal disease. This is an exciting time for Pharmalink, as it prepares for the start of its Phase 3 study with Nefecon®.”

“I am excited to take up the CEO position at Pharmalink and join a team which has achieved truly exciting clinical results in the NEFIGAN trial. The company is well positioned to see accelerated growth and expansion through work with clinicians, KOLs and regulators to bring products to the market which address unmet medical needs, and make a true difference to patients and their families.” said Renee Aguiar-Lucander.