Destiny Pharma appoints Dr Debra Barker as Non-Executive Director
Experienced pharmaceutical executive and medical director with expertise in anti-infective drug
development and in-licensing
Brighton, United Kingdom – 2 December 2019 – Destiny Pharma (AIM: DEST), a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel antimicrobial drugs that address clear commercial opportunities and also address the global problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), announces the appointment of Dr. Debra Barker as an independent Non-Executive Director with effect from 1 January 2020.
Dr. Barker is a seasoned pharmaceutical executive with more than 25 years’ experience in the industry in both pharma and biotech having worked at Novartis, Roche, GSK (then SmithKline Beecham) and most recently at Polyphor as Chief Medical and Development Officer. Dr. Barker is currently on the board of Hutman Diagnostics, a molecular diagnostic company specialising in antimicrobial resistance, and BerGenBio, an oncology company targeting immune-evasive and therapy resistance cancers. At Novartis Dr. Barker held several senior roles including development lead for the acquisition of UK and US biotech anti-infective assets and the in-licensing of GSK’s late stage oncology portfolio. Dr. Barker was also the medical lead for Swiss based anti-infective specialist Polyphor’s IPO on the SIX Swiss Exchange, raising 165m CHF in 2018, the largest Swiss biotech IPO in 10 years.
Nick Rodgers, Chairman of Destiny Pharma, commented:
“We are delighted to announce Dr. Barker’s appointment to the Destiny board. Debra has significant experience of late stage drug development, including anti-infectives and a long-standing interest in microbiology and infection management in a clinical setting. Dr Barker also has broader corporate experience of in-licencing and portfolio development. These skills will be of immense value to Destiny Pharma as we continue to develop the business and advance our lead drug candidate, XF-73, which is currently in phase 2b development for the prevention of post-surgical infections.”
The following information is disclosed pursuant to Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies. Debra Stephanie Barker, aged 57, has been a director of the following companies during the five years preceding the date of this announcement:
Current Past
Hutman Diagnostics AG Polyphor AG
Barker Biomedical Limited Polyphor UK Limited
BerGen Bio ASA
There is no further information to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 17 or Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies.
The information communicated in this announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014.
For further information, please contact:
Destiny Pharma plc
Neil Clark, CEO
Shaun Claydon, CFO
pressoffice@destinypharma.com
+44 (0)1273 704 440
FTI Consulting
Simon Conway / Victoria Foster Mitchell
destinypharma@fticonsulting.com
+44 (0) 20 3727 1000
finnCap Ltd (Nominated Advisor Joint Broker)
Geoff Nash / Kate Bannatyne, Corporate Finance
Alice Lane, Corporate Broking
+44 (0)20 7220 0500
WG Partners (Joint Broker)
Nigel Barnes / Claes Spång / Nigel Birks
+44 (0) 203 705 9330
About Destiny Pharma
Destiny Pharma is an established, clinical stage, innovative biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialisation of novel medicines from its XF Platform that represent a new approach to the treatment of infectious disease. The company’s lead programme is undergoing a Phase 2b clinical trial and is targeting the prevention of post‐surgical hospital infections including MRSA. The XF drug candidates are being developed for the prevention and treatment of life‐ threatening infections caused by antibiotic‐resistant bacteria, often referred to as “superbugs”. Tackling anti‐microbial resistance has become a global imperative recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations, as well as the G7 and the G20 countries. For further information, please visit https://www.destinypharma.com