Bavarian Nordic realigns for expansion
Creates two business divisions: cancer vaccines and infectious diseases
Danish biotechnology firm Bavarian Nordic has reorganised its primary business areas into two divisions to accelerate the development of new products.
The creation of the cancer vaccines and infectious diseases divisions, each led by a new divisional president, will produce a stronger and more effective management structure as well as optimising resources, accelerating the development and in-licensing of new products within cancer and infectious diseases, and opening up separate strategic partnership opportunities, the company says.
Reiner Laus, executive vice president and ceo of BN ImmunoTherapeutics, Bavarian Nordic's cancer research division based in California, US, will head the new cancer vaccines division. It aims to drive Prostvac to the market through partnership, broadening the portfolio by acquisitions and developing new cancer targets.
Paul Chaplin, currently executive vice president and chief scientific officer, will lead the infectious diseases division. Its main objectives are the continued delivery of Imvamune under the contract with the US government signed in July for 20 million doses of the vaccine for use in case of a bioterrorism attack and securing further orders for the vaccine. It will also develop new late-stage vaccine candidates for infectious diseases beyond biodefence, supported by partnerships and/or acquisitions.
Bavarian Nordic says it is consolidating the management structure to accommodate these changes and as a consequence executive vice presidents Steen Vangsgaard and Anders Gram will be leaving the company. Morten Rasmussen will continue as senior vice president, Legal/IP and Ole Larson as executive vice president and chief financial officer.
‘The new organisational structure is ideal for generating short-term results,’ said president and chief executive Anders Hedegaard.
‘At the same time we are looking into expanding our activities in both areas by seeking strategic partnerships, which facilitate separate collaboration agreements with global pharma companies.’