Ms. Barrett Most Recently Served as CEO for Novartis Oncology and
Brings a Track Record of Success in Commercial Oncology
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 3, 2019--
UroGen Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq:URGN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company developing treatments to address unmet needs in the field of
urology, with a focus on uro-oncology, today announced the appointment
of Elizabeth (Liz) Barrett as President and Chief Executive Officer
effective immediately. She will also serve on the Company’s Board of
Directors. Ms. Barrett, who will be based in New York, replaces Ron
Bentsur. Mr. Bentsur will step down from his position at the Company but
will continue to serve in an advisory capacity as needed to ensure a
smooth transition.
Ms. Barrett will present at the 37th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare
Conference on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time. The
event will be held in San Francisco at the Westin St. Francis.
Ms. Barrett brings over 30 years of unique experience across oncology,
specialty care, surgical franchises, and consumer marketing in multiple
geographic regions. Her demonstrated expertise in pharmaceutical
development and commercialization of oncology products will be critical
as UroGen transforms into a leading commercial-stage entity and delivers
potentially paradigm-shifting products to oncology patients in the
urological setting.
“Liz has proven to be an exceptional leader with a well-established
track record in oncology and the vision and experience to lead UroGen as
it prepares for the expected launch of UGN-101, the Company’s first
potential product, in 2019,” said Arie Belldegrun, M.D., FACS, Chairman
of the Board of UroGen. “Through the persistence and dedication of Ron
Bentsur and the team, UroGen has become a leader in uro-oncology, and
has energized much needed innovation in devastating urologic diseases
that are often overlooked. We thank Ron for his commitment to UroGen and
are pleased to support him in his future endeavors to focus on
innovative early stage life sciences companies.”
Ms. Barrett was CEO of Novartis Oncology and a member of the Executive
Committee of Novartis. She previously served as Global President of
Oncology at Pfizer Inc. At Pfizer, she held numerous leadership
positions, including President of Global Innovative Pharma for Europe,
President of the Specialty Care Business Unit for North America, and
President of United States Oncology. Prior to Pfizer, she was Vice
President and General Manager of the Oncology Business Unit at Cephalon
Inc. Ms. Barrett also worked at Johnson & Johnson. She started her
career at Kraft Foods Group Inc. Ms. Barrett holds a Bachelor of Science
from the University of Louisiana and a Master of Business Administration
from Saint Joseph’s University.
“I’ve built a career with some of the best companies in the industry and
have had the opportunity to be entrepreneurial within each of those
positions. This is an opportune time to take that experience and apply
it to a smaller biotech company on the cusp of transformation,” said Ms.
Barrett. “UroGen is well positioned to firmly establish the viability of
its RTGel platform as the Company completes its first NDA submission to
the FDA and prepares for potential commercialization later this year. I
cannot think of a more exciting time to join UroGen and work with its
outstanding team as we begin to revolutionize uro-oncology and beyond.”
“I’ve had the great honor of leading UroGen through its early stages of
development, its initial public offering, completed enrollment of our
first pivotal trial, and now, initiation of our first rolling NDA
submission,” said Ron Bentsur. “I have no doubt that Liz will be a great
leader during UroGen’s next stage and will have the experience needed to
build on our clinical success and prepare the company for
commercialization. I look forward to supporting the Company’s ongoing
success.”
UroGen recently announced its initiation of the UGN-101 Rolling NDA
Submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The completed
submission is expected in mid-2019, with potential approval anticipated
in 2019. The Company plans to present the topline data in January 2019.
A live audio webcast of the J.P. Morgan presentation will be available
on the Investors section of UroGen’s website www.urogen.com.
A replay of the webcast will be available on the website for
approximately 30 days.
About UroGen Pharma Ltd.
UroGen Pharma Ltd. (Nasdaq:URGN) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical
company developing advanced non-surgical treatments to address unmet
needs in the field of urology, with a focus on uro-oncology. UroGen has
developed RTGel™, a proprietary sustained release, hydrogel-based
platform technology that has the potential to improve therapeutic
profiles of existing drugs. UroGen’s sustained release technology is
designed to enable longer exposure of the urinary tract tissue to
medications, making local therapy a potentially more effective treatment
option. UroGen’s lead product candidates, UGN-101 and UGN-102, are
designed to potentially remove tumors by non-surgical means and to treat
several forms of non-muscle invasive urothelial cancer, including
low-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma and bladder cancer,
respectively. UroGen is headquartered in New York, NY with operations in
Los Angeles, CA and Israel.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including with respect to the timing of submission and completion of a
rolling NDA for UGN-101, the potential regulatory approval and
commercialization of UGN-101, and the effects of Ms. Barrett joining
UroGen Pharma, which statements are subject to a number of risks,
uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to: the timing
and success of clinical trials and potential complications thereof; the
ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval; the labeling for any
approved product; the scope, progress and expansion of developing and
commercializing UroGen Pharma’s product candidates; the size and growth
of the market(s) therefor and the rate and degree of market acceptance
thereof vis-à-vis alternative therapies; and UroGen Pharma’s ability to
attract or retain key management, members of the board of directors and
personnel. In light of these risks and uncertainties, and other risks
and uncertainties that are described in the Risk Factors section of
UroGen Pharma’s Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 15, 2018 and other
filings that UroGen Pharma makes with the SEC from time to time (which
are available at http://www.sec.gov),
the events and circumstances discussed in such forward-looking
statements may not occur, and UroGen Pharma’s actual results could
differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied
thereby. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of
this press release and are based on information available to UroGen
Pharma as of the date of this release.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190103005223/en/
Source: UroGen Pharma Ltd.
UROGEN
Kate Bechtold
Director, Corporate Communications
& Investor Relations
Kate.Bechtold@urogen.com
914-552-0456
