Open Orphan plc (ORPH), a rapidly growing specialist CRO pharmaceutical services company which is the world leader in the testing of vaccines and antivirals using human challenge clinical trials has announced the appointment of Elaine Sullivan as a Non-Executive Director to the Board.
Elaine is a business leader and senior scientist with international experience in the pharmaceutical industry and Biotech and is the CEO of Curadh Pharmaceuticals. Elaine has an in-depth background and knowledge of virology having received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh in Molecular Virology. She has been a member of the most senior R&D management teams in Lilly and AstraZeneca. Elaine also has extensive start-up experience having been a founder of Carrick Therapeutics and helped to raise over €100m of investor funds as CEO of Carrick in recent years. Elaine is a Non-Executive Director at IP Group plc and Active Biotech AB and is a member of the Supervisory Board at Evotec which is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
The Company also announces that Mark Warne, Non-Executive Director, will be stepping down from the Board on the 31st of December. Mark had been on the Board of hVIVO plc prior to its acquisition and assisted with the integration of hVIVO with the group.
Cathal Friel, Executive Chairman, Open Orphan, said:
“We are delighted to announce the appointment of Elaine to the board. Her level of expertise in virology alongside her exceptional career in the industry will be an excellent addition to the Company. We look forward to working closely with Elaine who brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience and will be invaluable addition to the Company as we now grow Open Orphan substantially in its next phase of rapid development.”
“We would like to thank Mark Warne for his service to the Company and for remaining on the Board to allow for a smooth integration of the companies during the transition period following the acquisition of hVIVO.”
Elaine Sullivan, Incoming Non-Executive Director, said:
“I am delighted to join the board. I have been impressed by the outstanding progress that Cathal Friel, the Board and the team have made in such a short time. I look forward to working with them in the next stage of the evolution of the company.”
