• Craig
Millian to replace retiring CEO, Gilbert
Godin, on May 1,
2023
TORONTO, April 17,
2023 /CNW/ - HLS Therapeutics Inc. ("HLS" or the
"Company") (TSX: HLS), a pharmaceutical company focusing on central
nervous system ("CNS") and cardiovascular markets, announces the
appointment of Craig Millian as
Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") of the Company, effective
May 1, 2023, concurrent with the
retirement of Gilbert Godin. Mr.
Godin will remain CEO until that date and will assist with the
transition. Mr. Godin will retire from the Board of Directors and
Mr. Millian will be appointed to the Board on May 1, 2023.
"Craig is a proven industry leader with a 20-year track record
of successfully managing commercial operations at several biopharma
companies," said Greg Gubitz,
Chairman of HLS. "He is well suited to lead our product portfolio
having operated in multiple therapeutic areas, including both CNS
and cardiovascular. Early in his career he led Pfizer's U.S. brand
team for Lipitor when it was the country's top-selling prescription
medicine. We are pleased to have him join us at this important
stage of Vascepa's commercial roll-out and as we continue with the
commercialization of our other products."
Mr. Millian was selected after an extensive search conducted by
the HLS Board. Mr. Millian's significant experience successfully
commercializing new products and managing large business units in
the specialty pharmaceutical industry makes him the ideal candidate
to lead HLS.
"HLS has a strong cardiovascular and CNS product portfolio that
is addressing important unmet needs for patients," said Mr.
Millian. "I'm excited by the growth potential of Vascepa along with
the solid financial fundamentals of the Company's core products,
which together serve as a strong platform from which to grow the
business. I thank Gilbert for all of his contributions, and I look
forward to working together with the Board, management, and all of
our employees to drive HLS forward."
Mr. Millian most recently served as Chief Operating Officer at
Corbus Pharmaceuticals where, following a major corporate
development, he helped lead an organizational transformation into a
precision oncology company that has in-licensed multiple promising
assets. Prior to Corbus, Mr. Millian held various commercial
leadership positions at EMD Serono, where he was responsible for
leading the strategic direction and driving operating results for
several important franchises in the U.S. Previously, Mr. Millian
served as Vice President, Commercial at Vertex Pharmaceuticals,
where he helped design and build commercial infrastructure,
organizational capabilities, and go-to-market plans in advance of
their first commercial launch. Earlier in his career, Mr. Millian
held marketing leadership roles for several blockbuster brands at
both Pfizer Inc. and Sanofi. Mr. Millian holds an MBA from
New York University and a BS degree in
Finance from the University of
Pennsylvania.
Mr. Gubitz added: "On behalf of the Board, I want to thank
Gilbert, one of the co-founders of the business, for being
instrumental in building the HLS organization and its product
portfolio. HLS today has an enviable portfolio with reliable
cash-flowing products including Clozaril in the Canadian and US
markets, as well as other products, such as Vascepa, with strong
organic growth potential. We believe this combination of a stable
foundation with high growth upside has the Company on solid footing
and well positioned for the future."
Mr. Godin stated, "I look back on the last 8 years with great
pride and humility, having had the privilege to bring together and
work with such a group of talented and dedicated team members. They
are the main reason why the future at HLS is bright. I also want to
thank my fellow directors for their support, and I wish Craig and
the whole HLS team great success."
ABOUT HLS THERAPEUTICS
INC.
Formed in 2015, HLS is a pharmaceutical company focused on the
acquisition and commercialization of late-stage development,
commercial stage promoted and established branded pharmaceutical
products in the North American markets. HLS's focus is on products
targeting the central nervous system and cardiovascular therapeutic
areas. HLS's management team is composed of seasoned pharmaceutical
executives with a strong track record of success in these
therapeutic areas and at managing products in each of these
lifecycle stages. For more information visit:
www.hlstherapeutics.com
FORWARD LOOKING
INFORMATION
This release includes forward-looking statements regarding
HLS and its business. Such statements are based on the current
expectations and views of future events of HLS's management. In
some cases the forward-looking statements can be identified by
words or phrases such as "may", "will", "expect", "plan",
"anticipate", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "believe" or the
negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to
identify forward-looking statements, including, among others,
statements with respect to HLS's pursuit of additional product and
pipeline opportunities in certain therapeutic markets, statements
regarding growth opportunities, expectations regarding financial
performance, and the NCIB and ASPP. The forward-looking events and
circumstances discussed in this release may not occur and could
differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and
uncertainties affecting HLS, including risks relating to the
specialty pharmaceutical industry, risks related to the regulatory
approval process, economic factors and many other factors beyond
the control of HLS. Forward-looking statements and information by
their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause HLS's actual
results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be
materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement
or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on any forward-looking statements or information. A
discussion of the material risks and assumptions associated with
this release can be found in the Company's Annual Information Form
dated March 15, 2023, and
Management's Discussion and Analysis dated March 15, 2023, both of which have been filed on
SEDAR and can be accessed at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers
should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements
or information. Except as required by applicable securities laws,
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they
are made and HLS undertakes no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise.
SOURCE HLS Therapeutics Inc.