Vaxart Appoints Seasoned Biotech Executive Kevin Finney to Board of Directors
Vaxart (NASDAQ: VXRT) has announced the appointment of Kevin Finney to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Finney, who brings 35 years of healthcare industry experience in leadership, operations, and corporate development, will serve on the Board's Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees.
The appointment comes as part of Vaxart's strategy to strengthen its leadership team and advance its oral vaccine platform technology. Simultaneously, Robert A. Yedid has stepped down from the Board of Directors. CEO Steven Lo expressed confidence that Finney's broad expertise will be valuable in executing the company's strategy and achieving timely milestones.
Vaxart (NASDAQ: VXRT) ha annunciato la nomina di Kevin Finney nel suo Consiglio di Amministrazione, con effetto immediato. Finney, che porta con sé 35 anni di esperienza nel settore sanitario in leadership, operazioni e sviluppo aziendale, parteciperà ai Comitati di Audit e di Nomina e Governance del Consiglio.
La nomina fa parte della strategia di Vaxart per rafforzare il proprio team di leadership e avanzare la sua tecnologia per le piattaforme di vaccini orali. Contestualmente, Robert A. Yedid si è dimesso dal Consiglio di Amministrazione. Il CEO Steven Lo ha espresso fiducia nel fatto che l'ampia esperienza di Finney sarà preziosa nell'esecuzione della strategia dell'azienda e nel raggiungimento di traguardi tempestivi.
Vaxart (NASDAQ: VXRT) ha anunciado el nombramiento de Kevin Finney en su Junta Directiva, con efecto inmediato. Finney, que aporta 35 años de experiencia en la industria de la salud en liderazgo, operaciones y desarrollo corporativo, servirá en los Comités de Auditoría y de Nominación y Gobernanza de la Junta.
El nombramiento forma parte de la estrategia de Vaxart para fortalecer su equipo directivo y avanzar en su tecnología de plataforma de vacunas orales. Al mismo tiempo, Robert A. Yedid ha renunciado a la Junta Directiva. El CEO Steven Lo expresó su confianza en que la amplia experiencia de Finney será valiosa para ejecutar la estrategia de la empresa y alcanzar hitos en tiempo.
Vaxart (NASDAQ: VXRT)는 Kevin Finney를 이사회에 즉시 임명했다고 발표했습니다. Finney는 리더십, 운영 및 기업 개발 분야에서 35년의 의료 산업 경험을 보유하고 있으며, 이사회의 감사 및 임명 및 거버넌스 위원회에서 활동할 예정입니다.
이번 임명은 Vaxart의 리더십 팀을 강화하고 구강 백신 플랫폼 기술을 발전시키기 위한 전략의 일환으로 이루어졌습니다. 동시에 Robert A. Yedid는 이사회에서 물러났습니다. CEO Steven Lo는 Finney의 폭넓은 전문성이 회사의 전략을 실행하고 시기 적절한 이정표를 달성하는 데 가치 있을 것이라고 확신했습니다.
Vaxart (NASDAQ: VXRT) a annoncé la nomination de Kevin Finney à son Conseil d'Administration, avec effet immédiat. Finney, qui apporte 35 ans d'expérience dans l'industrie de la santé dans les domaines du leadership, des opérations et du développement des entreprises, siégera aux Comités d'Audit et de Nominations et de Gouvernance du Conseil.
Cette nomination s'inscrit dans le cadre de la stratégie de Vaxart visant à renforcer son équipe de direction et à faire avancer sa technologie de plateforme de vaccins oraux. Parallèlement, Robert A. Yedid a démissionné du Conseil d'Administration. Le PDG Steven Lo a exprimé sa confiance dans le fait que l'expertise étendue de Finney sera précieuse pour exécuter la stratégie de l'entreprise et atteindre des jalons en temps voulu.
Vaxart (NASDAQ: VXRT) hat die Ernennung von Kevin Finney in seinen Vorstand bekannt gegeben, die sofort wirksam ist. Finney bringt 35 Jahre Erfahrung in der Gesundheitsbranche in den Bereichen Führung, Betrieb und Unternehmensentwicklung mit und wird in den Ausschüssen für Wirtschaftsprüfung sowie Nominierung und Governance des Vorstands tätig sein.
Die Ernennung ist Teil von Vaxarts Strategie, das Führungsteam zu stärken und die Technologie der oralen Impfstoffplattform voranzutreiben. Gleichzeitig hat Robert A. Yedid seinen Rücktritt aus dem Vorstand erklärt. CEO Steven Lo äußerte das Vertrauen, dass Finneys umfassende Expertise bei der Umsetzung der Unternehmensstrategie und der Erreichung zeitgerechter Meilensteine von Wert sein wird.
- Addition of seasoned executive with 35 years of healthcare industry experience
- Strengthening of Board expertise in operations and corporate development
- None.
Mr. Finney brings 35 years of leadership, operations and corporate development experience
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vaxart, Inc. (Nasdaq: VXRT) (the “Company” or “Vaxart”) today announced the appointment of Kevin Finney to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective today. Mr. Finney is a seasoned healthcare executive and experienced board member who brings decades of industry leadership experience and operational expertise.
Mr. Finney will serve as a member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees of the Board.
“Kevin adds a wealth of healthcare industry experience spanning executive leadership, governance, operations, and corporate development to the Board. His broad expertise will be an important asset as we execute on our strategy and focus on achieving our milestones in a timely manner,” said Steven Lo, Vaxart’s Chief Executive Officer. “We welcome Kevin to the Vaxart Board and look forward to his contributions.”
“I am excited to join Vaxart's Board as the Company continues to make major strides in advancing its oral vaccine platform technology,” said Mr. Finney. “I believe that Vaxart’s unique approach to vaccine development holds great promise for global public health particularly given the persistent challenges posed by various infectious diseases.”
The Company also announced that Robert A. Yedid has stepped down from the Board of Directors, effective today.
“On behalf of Vaxart and its Board, I would like to thank Bob for his years of service and contributions to our Company,” said Vaxart Board Chairman, Dr. Michael J. Finney.
About Kevin Finney
Mr. Finney is an experienced biotech executive and director who has held numerous leadership roles in the healthcare industry, leading companies from early stages of development through commercialization.
Mr. Finney currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Autobahn Therapeutics and Chairman of its Board of Directors since 2019.
Prior to joining Autobahn, Mr. Finney served as President, Chief Operating Officer, and a Director of Abide Therapeutics through the company’s acquisition by Lundbeck in 2019. Prior to this, Mr. Finney founded and served as the Chief Operating Officer of Zavante Therapeutics through the company’s acquisition by Nabriva Therapeutics in 2018. Mr. Finney previously spent a decade as Head of World-Wide Corporate Development at Allergan, Inc.
Prior to Allergan, Mr. Finney held executive management roles at Prometheus Laboratories, Inc. (now Nestle Health Science), Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (now Bristol-Myers Squibb) and the Parke-Davis division of Warner-Lambert (now Pfizer). In addition to his role at Autobahn, Mr. Finney serves on the board of Eirion Therapeutics, and previously served on the boards of Elsie Biotechnologies (now GSK), Taris Biomedical (now J&J) and Anterios (now Allergan).
Mr. Finney holds an MBA from the George L. Graziado School of Business, Pepperdine University, and a B.A. in exercise physiology from California State University Long Beach.
Kevin Finney and Vaxart Board Chairman Dr. Michael J. Finney are not related.
About Vaxart
Vaxart is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a range of oral recombinant vaccines based on its proprietary delivery platform. Vaxart vaccines are designed to be administered using pills that can be stored and shipped without refrigeration and eliminate the risk of needle-stick injury. Vaxart believes that its proprietary pill vaccine delivery platform is suitable to deliver recombinant vaccines, positioning the company to develop oral versions of currently marketed vaccines and to design recombinant vaccines for new indications. Vaxart’s development programs currently include pill vaccines designed to protect against coronavirus, norovirus and influenza, as well as a therapeutic vaccine for human papillomavirus (HPV), Vaxart’s first immune-oncology indication. Vaxart has filed broad domestic and international patent applications covering its proprietary technology and creations for oral vaccination using adenovirus and TLR3 agonists.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding Vaxart's strategy, prospects, plans and objectives, results from preclinical and clinical trials, commercialization agreements and licenses, and beliefs and expectations of management are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements may be accompanied by such words as “should,” “believe,” “could,” “potential,” “will,” “expected,” “anticipate,” “plan,” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Vaxart's ability to develop and commercialize its product candidates; Vaxart's expectations regarding clinical results and trial data; and the timing of the conduct of such trials and of receiving and reporting such clinical results and trial data. Vaxart may not actually achieve the plans, carry out the intentions, or meet the expectations or projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions, expectations, and projections disclosed in the forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements that Vaxart makes, including uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement, and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates, and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from the clinical studies; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, and safety that could affect the availability or commercial potential of any product candidate, including the possibility that Vaxart's product candidates may not be approved by the FDA or non-U.S. regulatory authorities; that, even if approved by the FDA or non-U.S. regulatory authorities, Vaxart's product candidates may not achieve broad market acceptance; that a Vaxart collaborator may not attain development and commercial milestones; that Vaxart or its partners may experience manufacturing issues and delays due to events within, or outside of, Vaxart's or its partners' control; difficulties in production, particularly in scaling up initial production, including difficulties with production costs and yields, quality control, including stability of the product candidate and quality assurance testing, shortages of qualified personnel or key raw materials, and compliance with strictly enforced federal, state, and foreign regulations; that Vaxart may not be able to obtain, maintain, and enforce necessary patent and other intellectual property protection; that Vaxart's capital resources may be inadequate; Vaxart's ability to resolve pending legal matters; Vaxart's ability to obtain sufficient capital to fund its operations on terms acceptable to Vaxart, if at all; the impact of government healthcare proposals and policies; competitive factors; and other risks described in the "Risk Factors" sections of Vaxart's Quarterly and Annual Reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Vaxart does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Contact
Vaxart Media and Investor Relations:
Matt Steinberg
FINN Partners
IR@vaxart.com
(646) 871-8481
This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.
FAQ
Who is the new Board member appointed to Vaxart (VXRT) in January 2024?
What committees will Kevin Finney serve on Vaxart's (VXRT) Board?
Who left Vaxart's (VXRT) Board of Directors in January 2024?
What experience does Kevin Finney bring to Vaxart's (VXRT) Board?
