Alexion Executive Julie O'Neill to Succeed Dr. Squinto as Executive
Vice President, Global Operations
Dr. Squinto to Chair Alexion's Newly Formed Scientific Advisory Board
Starting in January
CHESHIRE, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALXN) today announced the planned
retirement of company co-founder Stephen Squinto, Ph.D., effective
January 1, 2015.
Dr. Squinto currently serves as Executive Vice President, Chief Global
Operations Officer. He co-founded Alexion in 1992 with Leonard Bell,
M.D., the Company's principal founder and current Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Squinto has been
instrumental in building the Company into a global leader in the
development, manufacturing and delivery of biotechnology therapeutics.
Dr. Squinto has held numerous leadership positions at Alexion prior to
his current role, including Executive Vice President, Head of Research
and Development. While in that role Dr. Squinto led the development of
eculizumab for patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome,
resulting in a second approved indication for Soliris® (eculizumab) in
the United States, Europe and Japan. He also contributed significantly
to Alexion's acquisition and further development of asfotase alfa as a
potential treatment for patients with hypophosphatasia.
Upon Dr. Squinto's retirement from Alexion on January 1, 2015, he will
be the Chair of a newly formed Scientific Advisory Board that will
provide strategic input into Alexion's discovery science and pipeline.
Dr. Squinto and the Scientific Advisory Board will work directly with
Dr. Martin Mackay, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Research
and Development. Alexion's Scientific Advisory Board will be comprised
of world-class scientists with expertise in key areas of focus at
Alexion.
"For the past 22 years, Steve has been a partner in medical innovation,
helping to build Alexion from our initial handful of employees to our
current multinational footprint with operations serving patients in over
50 countries around the world. The entire Alexion organization thanks
him for his tremendous contributions toward advancing our mission to
transform the lives of patients suffering with severe and
life-threatening diseases. Although I will miss Steve's daily presence
upon his retirement, we are very pleased that he will continue to help
us drive innovation by both establishing and serving as Chair of our
newly formed Scientific Advisory Board," said Dr. Bell.
"I'm very excited to continue my strong working relationship with Martin
and his R&D team as we build a best in class Scientific Advisory Board
focused on the identification of highly innovative new technologies and
products. I am especially gratified that this opportunity can help us to
further accelerate Alexion's development of potential treatments for
patients with the greatest need for transformative care," said Dr.
Squinto.
Ms. Julie O'Neill to Succeed Dr. Squinto
With Dr. Squinto's retirement, and as part of Alexion's established
succession planning, Alexion is pleased to announce the promotion of Ms.
Julie O'Neill to the position of Executive Vice President, Global
Operations, effective January 1, 2015. Ms. O'Neill will report directly
to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Leonard Bell. She
joined Alexion in February 2014 as Senior Vice President, Global
Manufacturing Operations, serving simultaneously as Alexion's General
Manager for Ireland. Ms. O'Neill has been responsible for leading all
aspects of the Company's global supply chain operations, including the
ongoing expansion into Ireland, announced earlier in 2014, and
improvements to Alexion's manufacturing plant in Smithfield, Rhode
Island.
"I congratulate Julie on her promotion to Executive Vice President,
Global Operations," stated Dr. Bell. "Julie has a strong track record as
an outstanding leader in both manufacturing and quality operations. At
Alexion, she has been instrumental in expanding and improving our
manufacturing and supply chain operations in the US, Europe, and Asia,
our build out of additional supply chain facilities and operations in
Ireland, the recruitment of an increasingly talented team, and in
improving quality operations across Alexion."
Prior to joining Alexion, Ms. O'Neill held leadership positions in
pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality for more than 20 years. Most
recently, Ms. O'Neill was Vice President of Operations and General
Manager for Ireland at Gilead Sciences, where she established the
company's Irish subsidiary and plant operations and held other
cross-functional global leadership roles. Previously, Ms. O'Neill held
leadership positions in operations, manufacturing and quality functions
at Burnil Pharmacies and Helsinn Birex Pharmaceuticals. She serves as
the Chairperson for the National Standards Authority of Ireland and is a
member of the Governing Body of University College Cork, and is a past
president of the Irish Business Employers' Confederation. Ms. O'Neill
has a Bachelor's of Science in Pharmacy from University of Dublin,
Trinity College, and an MBA from University College Dublin.
About Alexion
Alexion is a biopharmaceutical company focused on serving patients with
severe and rare disorders through the innovation, development and
commercialization of life-transforming therapeutic products. Alexion is
the global leader in complement inhibition and has developed and markets
Soliris® (eculizumab) as a treatment for patients with PNH and aHUS, two
debilitating, ultra-rare and life-threatening disorders caused by
chronic uncontrolled complement activation. Soliris is currently
approved in nearly 50 countries for the treatment of PNH and in nearly
40 countries for the treatment of aHUS. Alexion is evaluating other
potential indications for Soliris in additional severe and ultra-rare
disorders beyond PNH and aHUS, and is developing other highly innovative
biotechnology product candidates, including asfotase alfa, across
multiple therapeutic areas. This press release and further information
about Alexion can be found at: www.alexionpharma.com.
[ALXN-G]
Alexion
Media:
Irving Adler, 203-271-8210
Executive
Director, Corporate Communications
or
Kim Diamond, 203-439-9600
Senior
Director, Corporate Communications
or
Investors:
Elena
Ridloff, 203-699-7722
Executive Director, Investor Relations
Source: Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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