4D pharma plc (AIM: DDDD), a pharmaceutical company leading the
development of Live Biotherapeutic products (LBPs) - a novel class
of drug derived from the microbiome, today announces the
appointment of Paul Maier as Non-Executive Director of the Board.
Mr Maier will also be a member of 4D's Audit and Risk Committee and
will serve as the Company’s “audit committee financial expert”
under SEC and Nasdaq rules.
“With over 25 years of extensive senior operational,
international and financial management experience in the
pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, Paul will be able to
provide 4D pharma with invaluable insights as we continue to
execute across our business both clinically and operationally,”
said Duncan Peyton, Chief Executive Officer of 4D pharma. “Paul’s
strong track record will support our Board with additional
perspective and expertise.”
“I am excited to join 4D pharma’s Board and support its goals to
establish a larger global presence while working to bring its
differentiated approach and pipeline of Live Biotherapeutics to
patients in need,” said Paul Maier, Non-Executive Director of 4D
pharma. “I look forward to working with 4D and offering my
experiences in transactional and operational strategy as the
company continues to grow, catalyzed by 4D’s upcoming NASDAQ
listing.”
Mr. Maier has over 25 years of investor and public relations,
operational, regulatory, and finance expertise in the healthcare
industry. Mr. Maier was previously the Chief Financial Officer of
Sequenom Inc., where he was responsible for raising over $360
million in equity and debt financings, expanding institutional sell
side research analyst coverage, as well as overseeing and
establishing internal financial infrastructure. Previously, he was
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ligand
Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: LGND) where he helped build Ligand from a
venture stage company to a commercial, integrated biopharmaceutical
organization, raising over $1 billion in equity and debt financings
including a successful IPO, and helped negotiate multiple R&D
and commercial partnerships and transactions. He has also acted as
an independent financial consultant to life sciences companies. Mr.
Maier is currently a Board member of Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc,
Biological Dynamics and International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCQB:
ISCO). He holds an MBA from Harvard University and a BS in Business
Logistics from the Pennsylvania State University.
Additional Disclosures Required under the AIM Rules for
Companies
In accordance with Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules, Paul Victor
Maier (aged 73) currently holds the following directorships: Eton
Pharmaceuticals, Inc Biological Dynamics, Inc International Stem
Cell Corp.
Previous directorships held in the past five years: Ritter
Pharmaceuticals, Inc (Mar 2015 – May 2020) Apricus Biosciences, Inc
(May 2012 – Jan 2019) Mabvax, Inc (June 2014 – July 2018)
Paul Maier does not currently hold any ordinary shares in the
Company.
Save as set out above there are no further disclosures pursuant
to Rule 17 or Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for
Companies in respect of the appointment of Paul Maier.
About 4D pharma
Founded in February 2014, 4D pharma is a world leader in the
development of Live Biotherapeutics, a novel and emerging class of
drugs, defined by the FDA as biological products that contain a
live organism, such as a bacterium, that is applicable to the
prevention, treatment or cure of a disease. 4D has developed a
proprietary platform, MicroRx®, that rationally identifies Live
Biotherapeutics based on a deep understanding of function and
mechanism.
4D pharma's Live Biotherapeutic products (LBPs) are orally
delivered single strains of bacteria that are naturally found in
the healthy human gut. The Company has six clinical programs,
namely a Phase I/II study of MRx0518 in combination with KEYTRUDA
(pembrolizumab) in solid tumors, a Phase I study of MRx0518 in a
neoadjuvant setting for patients with solid tumors, a Phase I study
of MRx0518 in patients with pancreatic cancer, a Phase I/II study
of MRx-4DP0004 in asthma (NCT03851250), a Phase II study of
MRx-4DP0004 in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (NCT04363372),
and Blautix® in Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (NCT03721107) which
has completed a successful Phase II trial. Preclinical-stage
programs include candidates for CNS disease such as Parkinson's
disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. The Company has a
research collaboration with MSD, a tradename of Merck & Co.,
Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA, to discover and develop Live
Biotherapeutics for vaccines.
For more information, refer to www.4dpharmaplc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains
"forward-looking statements." All statements other than statements
of historical fact contained in this announcement, including
without limitation statements regarding timing of the clinical
trial are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section
27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the United States Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").
Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "foresee,"
"should," "would," "could," "may," "estimate," "outlook" and
similar expressions, including the negative thereof. The absence of
these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not
forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on the
Company's current expectations, beliefs and assumptions concerning
future developments and business conditions and their potential
effect on the Company. While management believes that these
forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there
can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company
will be those that it anticipates.
All of the Company's
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and
uncertainties, some of which are significant or beyond its control,
and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the Company's historical experience and its present
expectations or projections. The foregoing factors and the other
risks and uncertainties that affect the Company's business,
including the risks of delays in the commencement of the clinical
trial and those additional risks and uncertainties described the
documents filed by the Company with the US Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”), should be carefully considered. The Company
wishes to caution you not to place undue reliance on any
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.
The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise
any of its forward-looking statements after the date they are made,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
except to the extent required by law.
Additional Information about the Transaction and Where to Find
it
This press release is being
made in respect of a proposed business combination involving 4D and
Longevity. Following the announcement of the proposed business
combination, 4D filed a registration statement on Form F-4 (the
“Registration Statement”) with the SEC which was declared effective
on February 25, 2021. This press release does not constitute an
offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe
for any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval nor
shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any
jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the
securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The Registration
Statement includes a prospectus with respect to 4D’s ordinary
shares and ADSs to be issued in the proposed transaction and a
proxy statement of Longevity in connection with the merger. The
proxy statement/prospectus has been mailed to the Longevity
shareholders on or about February 26, 2021. 4D and Longevity also
plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed
transaction.
This press release is not a
substitute for any prospectus, proxy statement or any other
document that 4D or Longevity may file with the SEC in connection
with the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders are
urged to read the Registration Statement and, when they become
available, any other relevant documents that will be filed with the
SEC carefully and in their entirety because they will contain
important information about the proposed transaction.
You may obtain copies of all
documents filed with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of
charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). In addition, investors
and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the
Registration Statement and other documents filed with the SEC
without charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov) or by calling
+1-800-SEC-0330.
Participants in the Solicitation
Longevity and its directors
and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be
participants in the solicitation of proxies from Longevity’s
shareholders with respect to the proposed transaction. Information
regarding Longevity’s directors and executive officers is available
in its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
February 29, 2020, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2020. Additional
information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation
relating to the proposed transaction and a description of their
direct and indirect interests is contained in the Registration
Statement.
4D and its directors and
executive officers may also be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Longevity in
connection with the proposed transaction. A list of the names of
such directors and executive officers and information regarding
their interests in the proposed transaction is included in the
Registration Statement.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210301005055/en/
4D pharma Investor Relations: ir@4dpharmaplc.com
Stern Investor Relations, Inc. Julie Seidel +1-212-362-1200
Julie.seidel@sternir.com
N+1 Singer - Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker +44 (0)20
7496 3000 Philip Davies / Iqra Amin / James Fischer (Corporate
Finance) Tom Salvesen (Corporate Broking)
Bryan Garnier & Co. Limited - Joint Broker +44 (0)20
7332 2500 Dominic Wilson / Phil Walker
Image Box Communications Neil Hunter / Michelle Boxall
+44 (0)20 8943 4685 neil@ibcomms.agency /
michelle@ibcomms.agency
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