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Executive Leadership Expanded Ahead of First Potential U.S. Product LaunchNEW YORK, July 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mesoblast Limited (Nasdaq: MESO; ASX: MSB), global leader in cellular medicines for inflammatory diseases, today announced the appointment of Dagmar Rosa-Bjorkeson to the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO), based in New York. Ms Rosa-Bjorkeson’s responsibilities will include managing commercial operations, leading the business units, building out key strategic alliances, and overseeing product launches. She will be part of an expanded executive leadership structure that will deliver deep operational, commercial, and strategic pharmaceutical experience in line with the Company’s transition to becoming a fully integrated commercial organization. Mesoblast Chief Executive Dr Silviu Itescu stated: “I am pleased to welcome Ms Rosa-Bjorkeson to join our highly experienced and credentialed cross-functional executive leadership team. Mesoblast is very well positioned to build out our product portfolio and to be ready for the potential launch of RYONCIL™ in the United States market for pediatric steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease.” Ms Rosa-Bjorkeson has more than 25 years of global experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including executive leadership in corporate and product strategy, market development and operational execution. She has led multiple successful product launches, including Gilenya® for multiple sclerosis at Novartis where she was Vice President and Head of its multiple sclerosis business unit, Vice President, Business Development and Licensing in the United States, and Country Head and President for Novartis Sweden. More recently, Ms Rosa-Bjorkeson served as Executive Vice President and President, Biosimilars, at Baxalta, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company. She was also Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Development Officer at Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals. Ms Rosa-Bjorkeson is highly valued for her ability to deliver product launch excellence across mass markets, as well as specialty and rare disease brands. Ms Rosa-Bjorkeson said: “I am very pleased to join Mesoblast at such an exciting and important time in the Company’s history, and to be part of a cross-functional leadership team that is working towards bringing its cell therapies to patients with critical unmet needs.” About RYONCIL™ (remestemcel-L) Mesoblast’s Biologics License Application to seek approval of RYONCIL™ for pediatric steroid-refractory acute graft versus host disease has been accepted for priority review by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and if approved, product launch in the United States is expected in 2020. Remestemcel-L is also being developed for other inflammatory diseases in children and adults including moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Following positive pilot trial results under compassionate care use, remestemcel-L is being evaluated in a Phase 3 randomized controlled trial in 300 patients with COVID-19 ARDS in the United States. About Mesoblast Mesoblast has locations in Australia, the United States and Singapore and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (MSB) and on the Nasdaq (MESO). For more information, please see www.mesoblast.com, LinkedIn: Mesoblast Limited and Twitter: @Mesoblast Forward-Looking Statements Release authorized by the Chief Executive. For further information, please contact:
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