Gina Consylman Joining Board of Directors
Hagop Youssoufian, MSc, MD Transitioning to Head of Medical Strategy
Kirk Taylor, MD, Appointed Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs
Strategy and Operations
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 18, 2018--
Verastem, Inc. (Nasdaq: VSTM) (Verastem Oncology or the Company),
focused on developing and commercializing medicines to improve the
survival and quality of life of cancer patients, today announced the
appointment of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer
Gina Consylman to its Board of Directors. Ms. Consylman, who will also
serve as the Chair of the Board’s Audit Committee, replaces Louise
Phanstiel who is leaving the Board to pursue other professional
opportunities.
In addition, Hagop Youssoufian, MSc, MD is transitioning to serve as
Verastem Oncology’s Head of Medical Strategy from his prior role as Head
of Hematology and Oncology Development. Dr. Youssoufian will be taking
over responsibilities from Diep Le, MD, PhD who is stepping down as
Chief Medical Officer. Kirk Taylor, MD has also joined the Company as
Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs Strategy and Operations.
“We are delighted to have Gina and Kirk join the Verastem Oncology team
as we enter this new period of growth with our first commercial product
launch,” said Robert Forrester, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Verastem Oncology. “Gina brings a unique financial acumen to the Board
of Directors with more than 25 years of experience in the fields of
corporate finance, accounting and tax management for commercial-stage
pharmaceutical companies, including organizations navigating through
first commercial product launches. Kirk is an accomplished medical
affairs executive and prior practicing clinician with vast experience
leading global cross-functional teams and successfully bringing drug
candidates and products to market. On behalf of the entire Board and
management team, we sincerely welcome Gina and Kirk and look forward to
their insights and contributions.”
Mr. Forrester added, “Over the past several years, Hagop has played a
pivotal role in the growth and success of Verastem Oncology and I have
no doubt he will continue delivering successful results with
distinction. The Board and I wish to express our gratitude to Louise and
Diep for their outstanding contributions and service. They have each
played important roles in building the Company into what we believe will
be a successful commercial organization. We wish both Louise and Diep
all the very best in their future endeavors.”
“Verastem Oncology is entering an exciting new chapter and I am honored
to join the Board of Directors to help the Company execute on its
strategic and commercial corporate goals,” said Ms. Consylman. “I
believe the Company is well-positioned for the next stage of evolution
with a robust commercialization plan to help address the significant
unmet need for the patients and families suffering from hematological
malignancies.”
Ms. Consylman currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial
biotech company, where she oversees the finance, planning, accounting,
tax, treasury and insurance functions. Prior to joining Ironwood, Gina
was Vice President, Corporate Controller and Principal Accounting
Officer of Analogic Corporation, a healthcare and security technology
solutions company, where she led the company's global accounting and
treasury teams. Prior to Analogic, Gina held senior level accounting and
corporate controller positions at Biogen Inc. and Varian Semiconductor
Equipment Associates, Inc. (acquired by Applied Materials, Inc.). She
began her career in public accounting at Ernst & Young LLP. Ms.
Consylman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Johnson
& Wales University, a Master of Science degree in taxation from Bentley
University, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Dr. Taylor brings more than 21 years of pharmaceutical industry
experience and 12 years in clinical practice to Verastem Oncology. He
has led cross-functional teams as Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice
President, covering many parts of the world including the United States,
Europe, Latin America, North America and Asia. Dr. Taylor has held
executive leadership positions at Pfizer, Actelion, Biogen, Alzheon,
Sanofi Genzyme, Prescient Medicine and Finch Therapeutics. Dr. Taylor
specializes in late phase development and medical affairs. Dr. Taylor
received his B.A. from Harvard University and his M.D. from SUNY
Downstate. He completed his internship at Roosevelt Hospital Columbia
University, his residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine,
and a Post Doctorate at The University of California San Francisco,
where he also served as a faculty member.
About Verastem Oncology
Verastem Oncology (Nasdaq: VSTM) is a commercial biopharmaceutical
company committed to the development and commercialization of medicines
to improve the lives of patients diagnosed with cancer. We are driven by
the strength, tenacity and courage of those battling cancer –
single-minded in our resolve to deliver new therapies that not only keep
cancer at bay, but improve the lives of patients diagnosed with cancer.
Because for us, it’s personal.
Our first FDA approved product is now available for the treatment of
patients with certain types of indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (iNHL).
Our pipeline comprises product candidates that seek to treat cancer by
modulating the local tumor microenvironment. For more information,
please visit www.verastem.com.
Forward Looking Statements Notice
This press release includes forward-looking statements about Verastem
Oncology’s strategy, future plans and prospects, including statements
regarding the development and activity of Verastem Oncology’s lead
product COPIKTRA. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate,"
"expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "target,"
"potential," "will," "would," "could," "should," "continue," and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements,
although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying
words. Each forward-looking statement is subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed or implied in such statement. Applicable risks and
uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainties regarding the
commercial success of COPIKTRA in the United States; uncertainties
regarding physician and patient adoption of COPIKTRA, including those
related to the safety and efficacy of COPIKTRA; the uncertainties
inherent in research and development of COPIKTRA, such as negative or
unexpected results of clinical trials; whether and when any applications
for COPIKTRA may be filed with regulatory authorities in jurisdictions
outside of the United States; whether and when regulatory authorities in
any other jurisdictions may approve any such other applications that may
be filed for COPIKTRA, which will depend on the assessment by such
regulatory authorities of the benefit-risk profile suggested by the
totality of the efficacy and safety information submitted and, if
approved, whether COPIKTRA will be commercially successful in such
jurisdictions; Verastem Oncology’s ability to obtain, maintain and
enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for COPIKTRA
and its other product candidates; the scope, timing, and outcome of any
legal proceedings; decisions by regulatory authorities regarding
labeling and other matters that could affect the availability or
commercial potential of COPIKTRA; that regulatory authorities in the
U.S. or other jurisdictions, if approved, could withdraw approval;
whether preclinical testing of Verastem Oncology’s product candidates
and preliminary or interim data from clinical trials will be predictive
of the results or success of ongoing or later clinical trials; that the
timing, scope and rate of reimbursement for Verastem Oncology’s product
candidates is uncertain; the risk that third party payors (including
government agencies) will not reimburse for COPIKTRA; that there may be
competitive developments affecting its product candidates; that data may
not be available when expected; that enrollment of clinical trials may
take longer than expected; that COPIKTRA or Verastem Oncology’s other
product candidates will cause unexpected safety events, experience
manufacturing or supply interruptions or failures, or result in
unmanageable safety profiles as compared to their levels of efficacy;
that COPIKTRA will be ineffective at treating patients with lymphoid
malignancies; that Verastem Oncology will be unable to successfully
initiate or complete the clinical development and eventual
commercialization of its product candidates; that the development and
commercialization of Verastem Oncology’s product candidates will take
longer or cost more than planned; that Verastem Oncology may not have
sufficient cash to fund its contemplated operations; that Verastem
Oncology or Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will fail to fully perform
under the duvelisib license agreement; that Verastem Oncology may be
unable to make additional draws under its debt facility or obtain
adequate financing in the future through product licensing,
co-promotional arrangements, public or private equity, debt financing or
otherwise; that Verastem Oncology will not pursue or submit regulatory
filings for its product candidates, including for duvelisib in patients
with CLL/SLL or FL in other jurisdictions; and that Verastem Oncology’s
product candidates will not receive regulatory approval, become
commercially successful products, or result in new treatment options
being offered to patients.
Other risks and uncertainties include those identified under the heading
"Risk Factors" in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarterly period ended June 30, 2018 as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 8, 2018, its Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed with the SEC on March
13, 2018 and in any subsequent filings with the SEC. The forward-looking
statements contained in this press release reflect Verastem Oncology’s
views as of the date hereof, and the Company does not assume and
specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking
statements whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise, except as required by law.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181018005792/en/
Source: Verastem, Inc.
Verastem Oncology:
Brian Sullivan, +1 781-469-1636
Senior
Director, Corporate Development
bsullivan@verastem.com
or
Media:
FleishmanHillard
Adam
Silverstein, +1 917-697-9313
media@verastem.com
or
Investors:
Argot
Partners
Joseph Rayne, +1 617-340-6075
joseph@argotpartners.com