Cassava Sciences Appoints Freda Nassif as Chief Commercial Officer
Cassava Sciences (NASDAQ: SAVA) has appointed Freda Nassif as Chief Commercial Officer, effective immediately. Nassif, who brings extensive experience in developing commercial strategies for FDA-approved drugs, will report to President and CEO Rick Barry. This appointment comes as Cassava prepares for its first Phase 3 topline data readout for simufilam, their novel Alzheimer's disease treatment, expected before the end of 2024. The company views this strategic hire as important for potential product launch preparations, pending positive trial results and FDA approval.
Cassava Sciences (NASDAQ: SAVA) ha nominato Freda Nassif come Chief Commercial Officer, con effetto immediato. Nassif, che porta una vasta esperienza nello sviluppo di strategie commerciali per farmaci approvati dalla FDA, riporterà al Presidente e CEO Rick Barry. Questa nomina arriva mentre Cassava si prepara per il suo primo rilascio di dati top-line della Fase 3 per simufilam, il loro nuovo trattamento per la malattia di Alzheimer, atteso prima della fine del 2024. L'azienda considera questa assunzione strategica importante per le preparazioni al lancio del prodotto, in attesa di risultati positivi degli studi clinici e dell'approvazione della FDA.
Cassava Sciences (NASDAQ: SAVA) ha nombrado a Freda Nassif como Directora Comercial, con efecto inmediato. Nassif, quien aporta una amplia experiencia en el desarrollo de estrategias comerciales para medicamentos aprobados por la FDA, reportará al Presidente y CEO Rick Barry. Este nombramiento llega mientras Cassava se prepara para su primer resultado de datos top-line de la Fase 3 para simufilam, su nuevo tratamiento para la enfermedad de Alzheimer, que se espera antes de finales de 2024. La empresa considera que esta contratación estratégica es importante para los preparativos del lanzamiento del producto, a la espera de resultados positivos de los ensayos y la aprobación de la FDA.
카사바 사이언스 (NASDAQ: SAVA)는 프레다 나시프를 최고 상업 책임자로 즉시 임명했습니다. 나시프는 FDA 승인 약물의 상업 전략 개발에 대한 광범위한 경험을 가지고 있으며, 사장 겸 CEO인 릭 배리에게 보고할 것입니다. 이 임명은 카사바가 알츠하이머 병 치료제인 시무필람의 첫 번째 3상 주요 데이터 공개를 2024년 말 전으로 예상하면서 이루어졌습니다. 회사는 긍정적인 시험 결과와 FDA 승인을 기다리며 제품 출시 준비에 있어 이 전략적 채용이 중요하다고 보고 있습니다.
Cassava Sciences (NASDAQ: SAVA) a nommé Freda Nassif au poste de Directrice Commerciale, avec effet immédiat. Nassif, qui apporte une vaste expérience dans le développement de stratégies commerciales pour des médicaments approuvés par la FDA, fera rapport au Président et CEO Rick Barry. Cette nomination intervient alors que Cassava se prépare pour sa première lecture des données top-line de la Phase 3 pour simufilam, leur nouveau traitement de la maladie d'Alzheimer, prévue avant la fin de 2024. L'entreprise considère cette embauche stratégique comme importante pour les préparatifs de lancement du produit, en attendant des résultats d'essai positifs et l'approbation de la FDA.
Cassava Sciences (NASDAQ: SAVA) hat Freda Nassif mit sofortiger Wirkung zur Chief Commercial Officer ernannt. Nassif bringt umfangreiche Erfahrung in der Entwicklung von Handelsstrategien für von der FDA zugelassene Medikamente mit und wird an Präsident und CEO Rick Barry berichten. Diese Ernennung erfolgt, während Cassava sich auf die erste Topline-Datenveröffentlichung der Phase 3 für Simufilam, ihre neuartige Alzheimer-Therapie, vorbereitet, die noch vor Ende 2024 erwartet wird. Das Unternehmen betrachtet diese strategische Einstellung als wichtig für die Vorbereitungen zum Produktlaunch, abhängig von positiven Testergebnissen und der FDA-Zulassung.
- Strategic timing of CCO appointment ahead of Phase 3 trial results
- Preparation for potential commercial launch indicates confidence in trial outcome
- Addition of experienced commercial leadership for FDA-approved drug strategies
- Success depends on pending Phase 3 trial results
- Commercial launch contingent on FDA approval
Ms. Nassif brings an extensive track record of successfully developing commercial strategies for multiple FDA-approved drugs
Appointment initiates Cassava’s commercial readiness strategy as the Company prepares for
first Phase 3 topline data readout before year end 2024
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cassava Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAVA), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing a novel treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, today announced the appointment of Freda Nassif as Chief Commercial Officer, effective today. As a member of the Company’s executive leadership team, Ms. Nassif will report to Richard “Rick” Barry, President and Chief Executive of Cassava.
“I am thrilled to expand Cassava’s leadership team and welcome Freda Nassif as Chief Commercial Officer. She joins our company at a critical time, ahead of the release of topline results from RETHINK-ALZ, our first Phase 3 trial for simufilam, expected by the end of 2024, and potential product launch,” said Rick Barry, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Freda brings to Cassava a proven track record of successfully developing and implementing effective commercial strategies for innovative medicines. Pending positive simufilam Phase 3 results and FDA approval, we believe Freda’s extensive expertise will be invaluable to the development of a robust commercial plan. She will play a key role in helping to realize our ambitious goal of reimagining the treatment possibilities for Alzheimer’s disease.”
Freda Nassif, Chief Commercial Officer of Cassava commented, “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the commercial organization for a novel therapy at a time in which there are unprecedented challenges for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease. Developing innovative commercial strategies has been the focus of my career and I look forward to bringing my experience to a company like Cassava that is committed to transforming the treatment paradigm."
About Freda Nassif, Chief Commercial Officer
Ms. Nassif is an accomplished biopharmaceutical executive with 25 years of experience, including leading commercial teams to blockbuster status for Pfizer, Inc., Novartis Oncology, Merck & Company, Inc. and Bristol Myers Squibb. In addition, Ms. Nassif has partnered with Fortune 100 life science, pharma, and biotech companies where she has been a major contributor to the commercial growth strategies of high-value, established and emerging brands including Zepbound®, Entyvio®, Tzield®, Epclusa®, and Takhzyro®.
Ms. Nassif has received numerous career awards including Pfizer’s “Vice President Cabinet Award”. Ms. Nassif earned her MBA and Bachelor of Science from Drexel University.
About Cassava Sciences, Inc.
Cassava Sciences is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in Austin, Texas. Our mission is to detect and treat neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Simufilam is an investigational oral, small molecule drug candidate currently being evaluated in two Phase 3 clinical trials for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Simufilam targets a specific site on filamin A, a scaffolding protein that is critical to certain receptor interactions in the brain. Cassava Sciences believes that simufilam interrupts amyloid-β42 binding to receptors in the brain and may affect the Alzheimer's disease process. Cassava Sciences owns exclusive, worldwide rights to its investigational product candidates and related technologies, without royalty obligations to any third party.
For more information, please visit: https://www.CassavaSciences.com
Zepbound® is a registered trademark of Eli Lilly and Company
Entyvio® is a registered trademark of Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A.
Tzield® is a registered trademark of Sanofi S.A.
Epclusa® is a trademark of Gilead Sciences, Inc.
Takhzyro® is a registered trademark of Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A.
For More Information Contact:
Investors
Sandya von der Weid
svonderweid@lifesciadvisors.com
Media
Sitrick And Company
Mike_Sitrick@Sitrick.com
Company
Eric Schoen, Chief Financial Officer
(512) 501-2450
ESchoen@CassavaSciences.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
This news release contains forward-looking statements that include but are not limited to statements regarding: the completion and future results of our Phase 3 clinical studies of simufilam in patients with Alzheimer's disease; the development of our commercial strategy; the timing of anticipated milestones; and the potential for simufilam to be approved as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. These statements may be identified by words such as “anticipate”, “before,” “believe”, “could”, “expect”, “forecast”, “intend”, “may”, “pending,” “plan”, “possible”, “potential”, “prepares for,” “will”, and other words and terms of similar meaning.
Such statements are based on our current expectations and projections about future events. Such statements speak only as of the date of this news release and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, those risks relating to the ability to conduct or complete clinical studies on expected timelines; the ability to demonstrate the specificity, safety, efficacy or potential health benefits of simufilam; our current expectations regarding timing of clinical data for our Phase 3 studies; and other risks inherent in drug discovery and development or specific to Cassava Sciences, Inc., as described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2024, and future reports to be filed with the SEC. The foregoing sets forth many, but not all, of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations in any forward-looking statement. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking statements and events discussed in this news release are inherently uncertain and may not occur, and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Except as required by law, we disclaim any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements. For further information regarding these and other risks related to our business, investors should consult our filings with the SEC, which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
All of our pharmaceutical assets under development are investigational product candidates. These have not been approved for use in any medical indication by any regulatory authority in any jurisdiction and their safety, efficacy or other desirable attributes, if any, have not been established in any patient population. Consequently, none of our product candidates is approved or available for sale anywhere in the world.
FAQ
When will Cassava Sciences (SAVA) release Phase 3 topline results for simufilam?
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