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Synairgen PLC (LSE:SNG) has announced that chairman Simon Shaw will retire at the upcoming annual shareholder meeting, set for 10 October in London. He will be succeeded by Mark Parry-Billings, recognized as a leader in inhaled drug development.
Dr. Parry-Billings most recently served as the global head of drug development at Chiesi Farmaceutici, a prominent Italian company specializing in respiratory and rare diseases. Prior to this role, he was the CEO of Canadian clinical-stage biotech Topigen Pharmaceuticals until its acquisition by Pharmaxis in 2010. With over 30 years of experience in research and development, Dr. Parry-Billings possesses extensive expertise in respiratory therapeutics and inhaled drug delivery.
In his statement, Shaw expressed confidence in Parry-Billings’ capabilities, noting, “I am delighted to hand over the reins to Mark, who is a world-class inhaled drug development leader. Synairgen now has both a rigorous development plan for SNG001 and someone with the optimal experience to guide the company's direction through this next phase.”
Dr. Parry-Billings also shared his enthusiasm for joining Synairgen, indicating that he has closely followed the company’s work on SNG001, which is being developed as a broad-spectrum antiviral for various severe lung infections. He looks forward to collaborating with the board and the broader team to advance its clinical development, addressing a critical area of unmet medical need.
The transition in leadership comes as Synairgen continues to focus on its development programs, particularly in the field of respiratory therapeutics. With the appointment of Dr. Parry-Billings, the company aims to enhance its strategic direction and clinical advancements. This leadership change marks a significant step in Synairgen's ongoing efforts to innovate within the healthcare sector.
