• Martin Nicklasson proposed as new chairman at Nykode Therapeutics as the Company enters a new stage of internationalization
• Anders Tuv to continue as an ordinary board member
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Oslo, Norway, December 15, 2021 – Nykode Therapeutics (formerly Vaccibody*)) (Euronext Growth (Oslo): VACC (ticker soon to be updated)), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of vaccines and novel immunotherapies, announced today a proposed election of a new chairman at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to be held on December 22, 2021.
Anders Tuv, outgoing chairman of Nykode Therapeutics, said: “Nykode Therapeutics has over the past two years been on a very successful transformational journey led by CEO Michael Engsig and his management team, including closing three significant international collaboration agreements with Adaptive Biotechnologies, Genentech (part of the Roche group) and Regeneron.“
He continued: “The recent name change marks a milestone in the Company’s journey of growth and transformation into a fully-fledged platform company, and that Nykode Therapeutics now enters a new stage of internationalization, including a potential US footprint expansion. On this background, I find it the right time to hand over the reigns as chairman and to continue as an ordinary member of the board.”
Anders Tuv concluded: “I have led the search for my successor, and I am delighted that Martin Nicklasson has accepted the role as new chairman of Nykode Therapeutics. Martin Nicklasson is a well-respected and proven chairman and board member in the biotech and biopharma sector. He brings 40 years of industry experience of operating across drug development, strategic marketing and business development, prior to being a highly successful CEO. He has a global outlook and his extensive career builds on an international set of leadership experiences with e.g. AstraZeneca and Swedish Orphan Biovitrum, where he previously held key global leadership roles.”
Martin Nicklasson, incoming chairman of Nykode Therapeutics, said: “I am delighted to join Nykode Therapeutics as new chairman. I am extremely impressed by the Company’s technology platform and R&D pipeline, as well as the Company’s outstanding achievements, including closing three landmark collaboration agreements over the past fourteen months “
He continued: “I look very much forward to assist in continuing Nykode Therapeutics’ journey of internationalization as well as to further develop Nykode Therapeutics’ position as a leading next-generation immunotherapy platform company.”
Michael Engsig, CEO of Nykode Therapeutics, said: “On behalf of our management team, I welcome Martin Nicklasson as new chairman of the board of Nykode Therapeutics. Martin Nicklasson brings valuable strategic insight. His guidance will help the management team to further drive our continued ambitious plans for the future, to capitalize on our pipeline, and to fully leverage our unique and modular vaccine technology platform within multiple, large and commercially significant disease areas, in line with our corporate strategy. We look very much forward to the collaboration.”
He continued: “On a personal note, I wish to thank Anders warmly for an outstanding collaboration over the past two years in his capacity as chairman of Nykode Therapeutics. I am also very pleased that Anders stays on the board and will continue to deliver significant value to the Company going forward.”
Biographical details of the incoming chairman, Martin Nicklasson
Biographical details of Martin Nicklasson include:
• 2009-2010: Swedish Orphan Biovitrum AB; President and Chief Executive Officer
• 2007-2009: Biovitrum AB; President and Chief Executive Officer
• 1978-2007: Astra AB/AstraZeneca Plc; most recently (2005-2007) President and Chief Executive Officer, AstraZeneca AB, and Executive Vice President, Global Marketing, AstraZeneca Plc
Martin Nicklasson’s current directorships include:
• Zealand Pharma A/S, Denmark: Chairman (April 2015) (Nasdaq)
• Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd., Switzerland: Board member (April 2013) (SIX)
• IRLAB Therapeutics AB, Sweden: Board member (May 2021) (Nasdaq OMX)
Martin Nicklasson (born 1955) holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Uppsala University, Sweden, and is a certified pharmacist of Sweden. He holds a broad managerial background in the fields of e.g. marketing and R&D. He is a Swedish national.
Coming Extraordinary General Meeting
Nykode Therapeutics has called for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to be held on December 22, 2021 to approve the changes to the board. Please refer to separate announcement issued today for details.
*) Vaccibody AS is changing its company name to Nykode Therapeutics AS. The change of name was approved at an EGM held on November 30, 2021.
About Nykode Therapeutics
Nykode Therapeutics, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, dedicated to the discovery and development of vaccines and novel immunotherapies for the treatment cancer and infectious diseases. Nykode Therapeutics’ modular vaccine technology specifically targets antigens to Antigen Presenting Cells, which are essential for inducing rapid, strong and long-lasting antigen specific immune responses and elicit efficacious clinical responses.
Its lead product candidates are VB10.16, a therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of human papilloma virus 16 induced malignancies which is in Phase 2 for the treatment of cervical cancer; and VB10.NEO, a cancer neoantigen vaccine, which is exclusively out licensed to Genentech and is in Phase 1b for the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic tumours and Phase 1/2a for the treatment of melanoma, lung-, head and neck, renal-, and bladder cancer. Additionally, Nykode Therapeutics has initiated a Phase 1/2 trial in 2021 with its two next-generation COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
The Company has collaborations with Roche, Genentech and Nektar Therapeutics within oncology, a multi-target collaboration with Regeneron within oncology and infectious diseases and collaborates with Adaptive Biotechnologies for COVID-19 T cell vaccine development.
Nykode Therapeutics’ shares are traded on Euronext Growth (Oslo), a trading platform operated by Euronext, the leading Pan-European market infrastructure. The ticker code is VACC (ticker soon to be updated). Further information about Nykode Therapeutics may be found at http://www.nykode.com
Contact for Nykode Therapeutics AS:
CEO Michael Engsig
Nykode Therapeutics AS
ir@nykode.com
Nykode Therapeutics AS
Oslo Science Park
Gaustadalléen 21
N-0349 Oslo, Norway
Forward-looking statements for Nykode Therapeutics
This announcement and any materials distributed in connection with this announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they reflect the company’s current expectations and assumptions as to future events and circumstances that may not prove accurate. A number of material factors could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
Kilde