Ms Ackermann was appointed to the board as a Non-Executive Director in September 2023.
Ms Ackermann brings over 25 years of legal and management experience across the pharmaceutical, device and consumer products industries. Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Global President Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals at Bausch + Lomb Corporation where she was responsible for strategic planning and worldwide commercialization of the pharmaceutical prescription assets across the portfolio as well as global legal affairs. During her tenure as President Ophthalmic Pharmaceuticals several new products were launched globally. Previously, Ms Ackermann was part of the Novartis group of companies for 14 years where she served in multiple leadership roles of increasing responsibility including Global Head, Legal and General Counsel of Alcon and Sandoz. Ms Ackermann currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Oculis Holding AG. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in EC Competition Law from King’s College at the University of London, UK, and a LLB from Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada.
Mr Austwick was appointed to the board as a Non-Executive Director in February 2024.
Mr Austwick has a wealth of strategic and operational experience in the biopharmaceutical industry including more than 15 years of respiratory expertise in leadership roles across the US, China, Europe and Japan. Most recently, he served as CEO at Vectura, and previously as Nordic General Manager and Head of the Global Respiratory Franchise at Novartis and as Head of US Respiratory and Vice President Global Inhaled Respiratory at AstraZeneca. Mr Austwick has led the development and commercialization of more than 10 brands, covering inhaled and biologic assets at a country and global level. He has an MSc in Information Management from the University of Hull and a BSc in Management and Systems from City University, London.
Mr Brady has served as a Non-Executive Director on our board of directors since March 2022.
Mr Brady has extensive experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, serving in multiple leadership roles of increasing responsibility across the US, Europe and China, during his 30-plus-year career at AstraZeneca. Most recently, Mr Brady served as Chief Financial Officer of MedImmune, the biologics discovery and development division of AstraZeneca. During his tenure at MedImmune, biologics grew to represent more than half of the product development portfolio of AstraZeneca and five biologics were successfully brought to market. Mr Brady currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Panavance Therapeutics. He is a Certified Public Accountant, holds an MBA from Drexel University and a BS in accounting from St. Joseph University.
Dr Cunningham has served as a Non-Executive Director on our board of directors since September 2015.
Dr Cunningham has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry including leadership roles at several companies focused on developing respiratory medicines. He serves as Non-Executive Chairperson of the board of directors of Medherant. Between 2006 and 2010, he was at SkyePharma (now part of Vectura Group), initially as Chief Operating Officer and subsequently as CEO where he was involved in the late-stage development of flutiform for asthma. Previously, he was CEO of Arakis, where he was involved in the early clinical development of glcopyrronium bromide, which is now marketed as Seebri for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Dr Cunningham received a degree in medicine from St. Mary’s, Imperial College, London University.
Ms Deschamps has served as a Non-Executive Director on our board of directors since March 2021.
Ms Deschamps is CEO and executive board member of AviadoBIO, a private gene therapy company. Prior to joining AviadoBIO, she was Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer, of Novartis Gene Therapies and previously was Head of Novartis’ Global Neuroscience Franchise. During her 25-year career at Novartis, Ms Deschamps gained significant global and US experience in bringing respiratory and other specialized therapeutic area products from the clinic to commercialization. Ms Deschamps has an MBA in General Management from NYU Stern School of Business and a BBA in marketing from IONA College, Hagan School of Business.
Dr Edwards has served as an Non-Executive Director on our board of directors since April 2019.
Dr Edwards has significant experience in investing and contributing to the development of biotech companies in both Europe and the US. Dr Edwards currently serves on the boards of Inozyme Pharma and Morphic Therapeutic. Previously, he was Senior Partner at Novo Ventures from 2003-2020, and Corporate VP and Global Head of Drug Development for Novo Nordisk, where he led all aspects of pre-clinical and clinical drug development. Dr Edwards trained in physiology and medicine at the University of Manchester. He was elected a Member of the Royal College of Physicians, a Member with distinction of the Royal College of General Practitioners, a Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine and holds a MBA from the University of Warwick.
Dr Shah has served as a Non-Executive Director on our board of directors since July 2016.
Dr Shah, Senior Fellow of Vivo Capital, was formerly a Managing Partner at the healthcare investment firm. Dr Shah is also the founder and Executive Chair of Semnur Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Scilex Pharmaceuticals), a specialty pharmaceutical company. Dr Shah previously served as a board member of Soleno Therapeutics, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, Aadi Bioscience and Homology Medicines. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors of several private companies in the biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Dr Shah received his PhD in industrial pharmacy from St John’s University and a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy from LM College of Pharmacy in Gujarat, India.
Mr Sinha has served as a Non-Executive Director on our board of directors since September 2016.
Mr Sinha has over 20 years of experience working in executive finance roles in the life sciences industry. Mr Sinha is Chief Financial Officer and co-founder of ElevateBio, a holding company focused on building cell and gene therapy companies. He also serves as President and Chief Financial Officer of AlloVir, an ElevateBio portfolio company. In addition, Mr Sinha serves as a member of the board of directors of Allovir. From 2005 to 2016, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining Alexion, Mr. Sinha held various positions with Bayer across the world including CFO, Bayer North America and CFO Bayer Yakuhin, Japan. Mr Sinha holds an MBA in business administration from the Asian Institute of Management. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and a Certified Public Accountant in the US.
Dr Ullman has served as a Non-Executive Director on our board of directors since September 2015.
Since May 2023, Dr Ullman has served as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Sobi, where he was Head of Research and Development and Chief Medical Officer from January 2022 to March 2023. From 2016 to 2021, he was Head of the COPD Centre at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden, and from 2013 to 2014, was Executive Vice President and Head of Research and Development in the BioScience business unit of Baxter International, a healthcare company that became Baxalta. From 2007 to 2013, Dr Ullman was Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development at Nycomed Pharma, which was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical. Dr Ullman received a MD and a PhD in clinical pharmacology from the University of Gothenburg.
