COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Forward Pharma A/S, a biopharmaceutical company focused on a proprietary formulation of dimethyl fumarate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, today announced that Joel Sendek, 47, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer, effective August 5, 2014. Mr. Sendek will serve as a key member of the executive team providing strategic leadership for the Company's financial functions and be responsible for the Company's short and long-term financial objectives in support of the business strategy. Mr. Sendek joins the Company from Stifel Financial Corp. where he served as Managing Director, Biotechnology and led the firm's healthcare equity research group.
Mr. Sendek has more than 20 years of experience in the life sciences sector and is widely recognized in the investment community and the corporate world for his broad biotechnology expertise and proprietary insight, including a previous #1 ranking for "Stock Picking" in The Wall Street Journal's Best on the Street Survey. Mr. Sendek also spent 12 years with Lazard Capital Markets, where he established the firm's healthcare equity research effort. Prior to his career in equity research, Mr. Sendek served as a Senior Director in Corporate Development at Progenics Pharmaceuticals and as an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs. Mr. Sendek holds a B.A. in Biochemistry from Rice University.
"We are excited to build out our executive team through the addition of Joel," said Florian Schonharting, Forward Pharma's Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors. "With his extensive biotechnology expertise, financial acumen and proprietary insight, Joel is well equipped to oversee Forward Pharma's finances. We look forward to Joel's many contributions to our Company."
Mr. Sendek commented, "I am pleased to have joined Forward Pharma at this important point in its development. Forward Pharma's proprietary FP187 formulation has the potential to improve the treatment for multiple sclerosis."
About Forward Pharma A/S
Forward Pharma A/S is a Danish biopharmaceutical company preparing to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial using FP187, a proprietary formulation of dimethyl fumarate (DMF) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Since its founding in 2005, the Company has worked to advance unique formulations of DMF, an immune modulator, as a therapeutic to improve the health and well-being of patients with immune disorders including MS. FP187, Forward Pharma's clinical candidate, is a DMF formulation in a delayed and slow release oral dose, which the Company plans to advance for the treatment of relapsing remitting MS, or RRMS, and other immune disorders, such as psoriasis.
Contacts
Andy Brimmer / Dan Katcher / Jennifer BeugelmansJoele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher 212-355-4449
