Vancouver, British Columbia – October 27, 2014 – Sirona Biochem Corp. (TSX-V: SBM.V FSE: ZSB) announces that it has named Mr. Attila Hajdu as Chief Business Development Officer. Prior to joining Sirona Biochem, Attila held various senior leadership positions within GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Astellas Pharma, accumulating 17 years of experience in Sales, Marketing, R&D Finance, Medical Affairs and Business Development.
“Attila Hajdu is an accomplished leader in the global pharmaceutical industry with a passion for delivering innovative solutions to optimize health outcomes. He is a skilled communicator with a solid reputation of building trusting relationships with external partners. Moreover, he is known for not only reaching set targets but exceeding expectations and bringing projects to successful conclusion. The addition of Attila to our team provides the important knowledge and experience of big pharma sales, marketing and licensing, but equally important is his solid understanding of biochemistry and keen ability to recognize the value of early stage products,” said Dr. Howard Verrico, CEO of Sirona Biochem.
“It is critical that we align ourselves with the needs of our potential partners and the market to reach the next level. Having a skilled leader in business development with a proven track record is imperative and we are very confident that Attila can meet the company’s needs,” he added.
About Attila Hajdu
As Business Development Medical Lead for GSK, Attila was responsible for leading projects which assessed in-depth drug opportunity/risk profiles taking into account reimbursement, commercial opportunity, competition, differentiation, as well as clinical and regulatory probabilities of success. He led cross functional teams in the valuation and presentation of potential revenue generating assets to GSK’s worldwide business development team. Moreover, he was supporting GSK Canada’s Business Development strategy to secure new revenue generating assets.
While working for the Canadian Medical Division of GSK, Attila acquired valuable experience in the biologic therapeutic area with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody Arzerra for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) from concept to launch. This was accomplished by successfully engaging key stakeholders in the development of this asset through collaborative research, strategic communication, educational activities and intelligence gathering. He accomplished successful endorsement and funding of investigator driven clinical trials through leadership, influence, and negotiations with senior global executives that resulted in top tier medical journal publications and biotechnology spinoff opportunities for other compounds.
Attila played leading roles in facilitating business development opportunities, liaising with securities biotech research analysts and founding managers to explore partnership opportunities with targeted monoclonal antibody platform technologies. He scientifically engaged key external experts to deliver innovative cost effective scientific solutions, including the launch of Cervarix for cervical cancer prevention and the tyrosine kinase inhibitor Tykerb for metastatic Her 2+ breast cancer.
Attila received an MBA from Queen’s University and an MSC in Biochemistry from the University of Western Ontario.
About Sirona Biochem Corp.
Sirona Biochem is a cosmetic ingredient and drug discovery company with a proprietary platform technology. Sirona specializes in stabilizing carbohydrate molecules with the goal of improving efficacy and safety. New compounds are patented for maximum revenue potential.
Sirona’s compounds are licensed to leading companies around the world in return for licensing fees, milestone fees and ongoing royalty payments. Sirona’s laboratory, TFChem, is located in France and is the recipient of multiple French national scientific awards and European Union and French government grants. For more information visit www.sironabiochem.com.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
For more information regarding this press release, contact:
Christopher Hopton
CFO
Sirona Biochem Corp.
Phone: 1.604.282.6064
Email: chopton@sironabiochem.com
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Sirona Biochem cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, Sirona Biochem’s forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Sirona Biochem’s business including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Sirona Biochem does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.