Belgian clinical stage biopharmaceutical company ASIT biotech has appointed Gerd Zettlmeissl as its new Chairman of the Board. His predecessor, Béatrice De Vos, has stood down to focus on new projects.
Gerd Zettlmeissl, an independent director of ASIT biotech since 2011, was the CEO of Austrian company Intercell, a vaccine company that merged with Vivalis to create European vaccines and antibodies company Valnev.
Zettlmeissl successfully accompanied Intercell’s international development, and in particular the global registration of a vaccine against Japanese encephalitis and the signing of strategic partnerships with prominent pharmaceutical companies.
He holds a doctoral degree in biochemistry from the University of Regensburg, Germany, and did a post-doctoral fellowship in virology at the Institut Pasteur in Paris.
Since 1985, Zettlmeissl has held various R&D and managerial positions at a number of international pharmaceutical companies, and was notably Managing Director of Chiron Behring, a commercial leader in the field of vaccines in Germany.
Zettlmeissl said: “I am particularly enthusiastic about being able to continue contributing to the development and future marketing of the next generation of immunotherapy products, to meet the needs of patients who are seeking significantly less restrictive treatments.”
“I would also like to thank all of the Board’s members and the ASIT biotech teams, for the trust they have put in me. I firmly believe in the company’s prospects and pledge to make the most of my substantial experience in the global development of new therapeutic solutions.”
Thierry Legon, CEO of ASIT biotech, added: “We would like to thank Béatrice De Vos for her remarkable contribution to ASIT biotech’s clinical progress since 2013, the year she was appointed Chair.”
“Her availability and her considerable expertise in terms of the clinical development of drug candidates have been valuable assets for the Company and the success of its IPO in May 2016.”
“We respect her decision, and wish her every success and fulfilment in her future professional and personal projects.”
“Gerd Zettlmeissl’s arrival as Chair will ensure continuity in the excellence of our governance and the pertinence of ASIT biotech’s strategy, which I firmly believe will enable us to successfully meet the many challenges that await us in 2017 on which we are actively working.”