SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vir Biotechnology, Inc. (Nasdaq: VIR) today announced the appointment of Johanna Friedl-Naderer as Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, Global, effective March 2, 2022. Reporting to Vir’s Chief Executive Officer George Scangos, Ph.D., and joining Vir’s senior leadership team, Friedl-Naderer will be responsible for shaping the company’s corporate and portfolio strategy, leading the global commercial organization and driving business development efforts.
“Johanna is an experienced commercial executive with an impressive range of global operational expertise and leadership success, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her again,” said Dr. Scangos. “She will be critical to the future growth and success of Vir, as we accelerate and build our portfolio of medicines aimed at serious infectious diseases, and continue to expand patient access to our first commercial product.”
Prior to joining Vir, Friedl-Naderer was President of Europe, Canada & Partner Markets for Biogen, where she served on the company’s Global Leadership Team. During her more than 20-year tenure at Biogen, she held positions of increasing responsibility across a wide range of functions, building and leading teams in advancing access to groundbreaking medicines for the treatment of devastating neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease.
Friedl-Naderer has also served on several boards, including the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries & Associations (EFPIA), the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce, Interpharma and the council of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA).
“Under the leadership of George Scangos and an impressive senior executive team, Vir’s scientific trajectory has been swift and its impact on patients around the world significant,” said Friedl-Naderer. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to such an important mission of addressing some of the world’s most serious infectious diseases, and to help further the Company’s growth and evolution.”
About Vir Biotechnology
Vir Biotechnology is a commercial-stage immunology company focused on combining immunologic insights with cutting-edge technologies to treat and prevent serious infectious diseases. Vir has assembled four technology platforms that are designed to stimulate and enhance the immune system by exploiting critical observations of natural immune processes. Its current development pipeline consists of product candidates targeting COVID-19, hepatitis B virus, influenza A and human immunodeficiency virus.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “potential,” “aim,” “promising,” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Vir’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Vir’s business activities, Vir’s strategy and plans, the potential of Vir’s pipeline programs, risks and uncertainties associated with drug development and commercialization and the expected benefits from Friedl-Naderer’s appointment as Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer. Many factors may cause differences between current expectations and actual results, including unexpected safety or efficacy data observed during preclinical or clinical studies, challenges in the treatment of hospitalized patients, difficulties in collaborating with other companies or government agencies, challenges in accessing manufacturing capacity, successful development, and/or commercialization of alternative product candidates by Vir’s competitors, changes in expected or existing competition, delays in, or disruptions to Vir’s business or clinical trials due to the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical changes or other external factors, and unexpected litigation or other disputes. Other factors that may cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in Vir’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section titled “Risk Factors” contained therein. Except as required by law, Vir assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.
