14 Jul Aridis Pharmaceuticals Appoints Fred Kurland as Chief Financial Officer
SAN JOSE, Calif. – July 14, 2015 – Aridis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company applying proprietary technologies to produce novel anti-infectives and immunotherapies for infectious diseases, announced today the appointment of Fred Kurland, a seasoned pharmaceutical executive, as the Company’s first Chief Financial Officer.
Vu Truong, Ph.D., founder and Chief Executive Officer of Aridis, stated, “Fred is a veteran financial executive with more than 30 years of experience serving as a CFO of numerous public and private companies in the biotechnology industry. His impressive track record of growing companies and bringing the necessary financial expertise in order to advance clinical programs into commercialization is a strategic step for Aridis. We believe Fred joining our executive team will be a valuable addition, particularly at an exciting time now that we are accelerating our clinical development activities on multiple monoclonal antibody programs for acute pneumonia.”
Prior to joining Aridis, Fred Kurland served as Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance and Secretary of XOMA Corporation since December 2008. He was responsible for directing the company’s financial strategies and financing activities. He participated in advancing XOMA’s lead candidate, gevokizumab, towards obtaining a Biologics Licensing Application and successfully expanded the company’s pipeline. Prior to XOMA, Mr. Kurland served as Chief Financial Officer and held financial management positions at multiple biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
Mr. Kurland added, “Aridis’ clinical developments are attractive given its promising pipeline and intriguing story. I am excited to be a part of the world-class team and to hit the ground running using my previous experience of over three decades in pharmaceutical finance to help Aridis grow into an internationally-recognized leader in anti-infectives.”
Mr. Kurland received a J.D. and an MBA degree from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Business and Economics from Lehigh University.
About Aridis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Aridis is a privately held biopharmaceutical company applying proprietary monoclonal antibody discovery technology MabIgX® and pharmaceutical formulation technologies to produce novel infectious disease focused therapies. Aridis’ product pipeline includes AR-101 anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS human monoclonal antibody; AR-301 anti-Staphylococcus aureus human monoclonal antibody to treat acute pneumonia; Aerucin™, a broadly reactive monoclonal antibody against Pseudomonas aeruginosa initially being developed to treat acute pneumonia; Panaecin™, a small molecule anti-infective gallium compound with broad spectrum activities against bacteria, viruses, and fungi; AR- 401 anti-Acinetobacter baumannii human monoclonal antibody; and AR-201 anti-RSV human monoclonal antibody.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include statements relating to the therapeutic applications of AR-101, AR-301, Aerucin™, Panaecin™, AR-401, AR-201, Aridis’ proprietary formulation and delivery technologies, about Aridis’ strategy, pre-clinical and clinical programs, and ability to identify and develop drugs, as well as other statements that are not historical facts. Actual events or results may differ materially from Aridis’ expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the timing, success and cost of Aridis’ research and clinical studies and its ability to obtain additional financing. These forward-looking statements represent Aridis’ judgment as of the date of this release. Aridis disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
Contacts:
Tiberend Strategic Advisors, Inc.
Tirth Patel (investors)
(212) 375-2681
Andrew Mielach (media)
(212) 375-2694