PureTech Founded Entity Gelesis Appoints Procter & Gamble Veteran Jane Wildman to Board of Directors

Rhea-AI Summary

PureTech Health plc (Nasdaq: PRTC) announced that its founded entity, Gelesis, appointed Jane Wildman to its Board of Directors. Wildman brings extensive experience from prominent companies and has a track record of success in brand growth. As Gelesis prepares for the U.S. launch of its weight management product, Plenity®, Wildman's marketing expertise is expected to significantly contribute to the company's strategies. Previously, she led Pampers at Procter & Gamble, doubling its sales from $4 billion to $8 billion. Gelesis focuses on innovative treatments for weight management and related health issues.

Positive

• Jane Wildman's appointment is expected to enhance Gelesis's marketing strategies for Plenity, aiding its launch.
• Wildman's extensive experience with globally recognized brands could drive brand recognition and sales for Gelesis.

Negative

• Concerns may arise regarding continuity and experience gaps in Gelesis's leadership despite Wildman's qualifications.

PureTech Health plc (Nasdaq: PRTC, LSE: PRTC) (“PureTech” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing highly differentiated medicines for devastating diseases, is pleased to note that its Founded Entity, Gelesis, announced the appointment of marketing executive Jane Wildman to its Board of Directors. Ms. Wildman has extensive experience as a board member, president and chief marketing officer across Fortune-25, mid-sized and start-up companies. The appointment comes as Gelesis looks toward the broad United States launch of its commercial product, Plenity®, this year.

PureTech Founded Entity, Gelesis, announced the appointment of marketing executive Jane Wildman to its Board of Directors. Ms. Wildman has extensive experience as a board member, president and chief marketing officer across Fortune-25, mid-sized and start-up companies. The appointment comes as Gelesis looks toward the broad United States launch of its commercial product, Plenity® this year. (Photo: Business Wire)

As President and Board Member of Combe Incorporated, a personal-care consumer products company, Ms. Wildman successfully led the company to record sales and profit growth ahead of peers. Prior to Combe, Ms. Wildman was a Partner and Consultant with The Partnering Group, where clients included Fortune 50 companies like Walmart, Procter & Gamble and Nestle.

Ms. Wildman spent over 25 years at Procter & Gamble, where she worked in beauty, health, baby, feminine care and food, both in the U.S. and internationally. She served as global Vice President and led the global marketing organization for Pampers, P&G’s largest brand. She led the repositioning of a declining Pampers brand and during her tenure, Pampers doubled from $4 to $8 billion in sales with over half of the sales in international.

The full text of the announcement from Gelesis is as follows:

Procter & Gamble Veteran Jane Wildman Joins Gelesis Board of Directors

Ms. Wildman brings extensive experience in brand building and marketing in the consumer health & wellness space, both at established market leaders and digitally native startups

BOSTON, April 26, 2021 – Gelesis, a biotechnology company advancing nature-inspired superabsorbent hydrogels to treat excess weight and metabolic disorders, announced the appointment of marketing executive Jane Wildman to its Board of Directors. Ms. Wildman has extensive experience as a board member, president, and chief marketing officer across Fortune-25, mid-sized, and start-up companies. The appointment comes as Gelesis looks toward the broad launch of its commercial product, Plenity®, this year.

“We believe we can help fundamentally change how the world addresses weight management. Jane has devoted her career to building brands that solve consumer problems, and her marketing and branding expertise will help us as we launch Plenity later this year,” said Yishai Zohar, CEO and Founder of Gelesis.

As president and board member of Combe Incorporated, a personal-care consumer products company, Ms. Wildman successfully led the company to record sales and profit growth ahead of peers. Prior to Combe, Ms. Wildman was a partner and consultant with The Partnering Group, where she specialized in corporate strategy, omni-channel marketing, transforming the user experience, and multi-cultural marketing. Clients included Fortune 50 and digital start-ups, including Walmart, P&G, and Nestle. Ms. Wildman spent over 25 years at Procter & Gamble, where she worked in beauty, health, baby, feminine care, and food both in the U.S. and internationally. She served as global Vice President and led the global marketing organization for Pampers, P&G’s largest brand. She led the repositioning of a declining Pampers brand and during her tenure, Pampers doubled from $4 to $8 billion in sales with over half of the sales in international.

“Throughout my career I have worked on many deeply personal brands, from feminine health and dandruff to baby care. I’m passionate about changing the conversation to personal empowerment, and that’s exactly what drew me to Gelesis,” said Jane. “With Plenity, we have the unique opportunity to change the stigmatized conversation around weight. When it comes to something as personal as weight and body image, it’s your choice and your journey, but you deserve the right partner to help you feel supported and empowered.”

About Gelesis

Gelesis is a consumer centered biotechnology company advancing a novel category of treatments for weight management and gut health related chronic diseases. Our non-caloric superabsorbent hydrogels are inspired by the composition and mechanical properties (e.g. firmness) of raw vegetables. They are conveniently administered in capsules to create a much larger volume of small, non-aggregating hydrogel pieces, that become an integrated part of the meals, and act locally in the digestive system.

Our portfolio includes Plenity, an FDA cleared product to aid in weight management, as well as potential therapies in development for Type 2 Diabetes, Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)/Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), and Functional Constipation.

For more information, visit gelesis.com, or connect with us on Twitter @GelesisInc.

About Plenity®

Plenity is FDA-cleared to aid in weight management in adults with excess weight or obesity, Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 to 40 kg/m², when used in conjunction with diet and exercise. Plenity is designed to help you feel full while eating less.

The capsules are taken 20-30 minutes before lunch and dinner with 16 oz of water, acting locally in the GI tract to make you feel fuller. Using a novel biomimetic approach, its structure and properties were inspired by vegetables. Plenity is available now in a limited release, with broad commercial availability later in 2021.

For more information, visit myplenity.com.

Important Safety Information

• Patients who are pregnant or are allergic to cellulose, citric acid, sodium stearyl fumarate, gelatin, or titanium dioxide should not take Plenity.
• To avoid impact on the absorption of medications:
  • For all medications that should be taken with food, take them after starting a meal.
  • For all medications that should be taken without food (on an empty stomach), continue taking on an empty stomach or as recommended by your physician.

• The overall incidence of side effects with Plenity was no different than placebo. The most common side effects were diarrhea, distended abdomen, infrequent bowel movements, and flatulence.
• Contact a doctor right away if problems occur. If you have a severe allergic reaction, severe stomach pain, or severe diarrhea, stop using Plenity until you can speak to your doctor.

Rx Only. For the safe and proper use of Plenity or more information, talk to a healthcare professional, read the Patient Instructions for Use, or call 1-844-PLENITY.

About PureTech Health

PureTech is a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing highly differentiated medicines for devastating diseases, including inflammatory, fibrotic and immunological conditions, intractable cancers, lymphatic and gastrointestinal diseases and neurological and neuropsychological disorders, among others. The Company has created a broad and deep pipeline through the expertise of its experienced research and development team and its extensive network of scientists, clinicians and industry leaders. This pipeline, which is being advanced both internally and through PureTech's Founded Entities, is comprised of 26 products and product candidates, including two that have received FDA clearance and European marketing authorization, as of the date of PureTech’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F. All of the underlying programs and platforms that resulted in this pipeline of product candidates were initially identified or discovered and then advanced by the PureTech team through key validation points based on the Company's unique insights into the biology of the brain, immune and gut, or BIG, systems and the interface between those systems, referred to as the BIG Axis.

For more information, visit www.puretechhealth.com or connect with us on Twitter @puretechh.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are or may be forward-looking statements, including statements that relate to the company's future prospects, developments, and strategies. The forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance and achievements to differ materially from current expectations, including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the appointment of Jane Wildman to the Board of Directors at Gelesis, and those risks and uncertainties described in the risk factors included in the regulatory filings for PureTech Health plc. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions regarding the present and future business strategies of the company and the environment in which it will operate in the future. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as at the date of this press release. Except as required by law and regulatory requirements, neither the company nor any other party intends to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210426005117/en/

FAQ

What is the significance of Jane Wildman's appointment to Gelesis's Board of Directors?

Jane Wildman's appointment is significant as she brings extensive marketing experience which will be crucial for the launch of Plenity, Gelesis's weight management product.

What experience does Jane Wildman have relevant to her role at Gelesis?

Jane Wildman has over 25 years at Procter & Gamble, where she successfully led Pampers to double its sales, alongside leadership roles in other major companies.

When is the broad launch of Plenity expected to happen?

The broad launch of Plenity is anticipated to occur later this year as Gelesis expands its market presence.

How might Jane Wildman's leadership impact Gelesis and PureTech Health?

Her leadership may enhance consumer engagement and brand strategy, potentially leading to increased sales and market presence for Gelesis's products.

What are the potential challenges for Gelesis with the new board appointment?

Potential challenges include addressing any continuity issues or experience gaps that could arise from changes in leadership.