Ultragenyx Appoints Howard Horn as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy

Rhea-AI Summary

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: RARE) announces the appointment of Howard Horn as executive vice president and CFO, effective October 16, 2023. Mr. Horn brings strategic finance and business planning expertise to support the delivery of promising therapies for rare diseases. His experience includes successful leadership at Vir Biotechnology and Biogen, making him a valuable addition to Ultragenyx's leadership team.

NOVATO, Calif., July 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: RARE), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapies for rare and ultrarare diseases, today announced that it has appointed Howard Horn as executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) effective October 16, 2023. Mr. Horn will be responsible for leading the finance, accounting, corporate strategy and investor relations functions.

“Howard is joining Ultragenyx and its leadership team during a pivotal period as our robust late-stage pipeline is maturing and we are preparing for the next phase of company growth,” said Emil D. Kakkis, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive officer and president of Ultragenyx. “Howard is a seasoned leader with strategic finance and business planning expertise, which will support our efforts to deliver multiple promising therapies to the global rare disease community over the next several years.”

Mr. Horn joins Ultragenyx from Vir Biotechnology, where he served as CFO from 2017 to 2023. As a member of Vir’s founding management team, he successfully led a series of private and public financings and executed multiple foundational transactions that supported the rapid transformation of Vir to a public, commercial-stage organization. Prior to Vir, Mr. Horn served as vice president, business planning at Biogen where he led Biogen's resource allocation processes across all functions and regions. Mr. Horn also served as Biogen's vice president, strategic corporate finance, where he led Biogen's corporate capital allocation processes. Previously, he held positions of increasing responsibility as a consultant in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Products Practice at McKinsey & Company, and as an equity research analyst in the Life Sciences group at UBS Group AG. Mr. Horn received his B.A. in Economics from Princeton University and his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

“I have long admired Ultragenyx and am greatly inspired by the company’s mission and the tremendous potential to help rare disease communities with limited options,” said Mr. Horn. “This is an exciting time to join the company, which I believe is poised for global commercial leadership in rare disease, and I'm looking forward to working closely with the leadership team and board on the next phase of growth.”

About Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.

Ultragenyx is a biopharmaceutical company committed to bringing novel products to patients for the treatment of serious rare and ultrarare genetic diseases. The company has built a diverse portfolio of approved therapies and product candidates aimed at addressing diseases with high unmet medical need and clear biology for treatment, for which there are typically no approved therapies treating the underlying disease.

The company is led by a management team experienced in the development and commercialization of rare disease therapeutics. Ultragenyx’s strategy is predicated upon time- and cost-efficient drug development, with the goal of delivering safe and effective therapies to patients with the utmost urgency.

For more information on Ultragenyx, please visit ultragenyx.com.

Contacts

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc.
Investors
Joshua Higa
415-475-6370
IR@ultragenyx.com

Media
Jeff Blake
415-612-7784
media@ultragenyx.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8477da18-8d4c-4daf-a8d8-b429810f7ff3

FAQ

What is the significance of Howard Horn's appointment at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ: RARE)?

Howard Horn's appointment as executive vice president and CFO is significant as he brings strategic finance and business planning expertise to support Ultragenyx's efforts in delivering promising therapies for rare diseases. His previous successful leadership at Vir Biotechnology and Biogen adds value to Ultragenyx's leadership team.

What is Howard Horn's professional background and experience?

Howard Horn previously served as CFO at Vir Biotechnology and held various leadership positions at Biogen, including vice president of business planning and strategic corporate finance. He also has consulting and equity research experience in the pharmaceutical and medical products industry.

What are Howard Horn's qualifications?

Howard Horn holds a B.A. in Economics from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. His experience and expertise in strategic finance and business planning make him well-qualified to support Ultragenyx's mission in delivering therapies for rare diseases.

What impact does Howard Horn's appointment have on Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc.'s (NASDAQ: RARE) future growth?

Howard Horn's appointment is expected to support Ultragenyx's future growth as the company prepares for global commercial leadership in rare disease therapies. His strategic finance and business planning expertise will be instrumental in driving the company's next phase of growth.