Destiny Pharma plc ("Destiny Pharma" or "the Company") Board changes including appointment of new CEO

Brighton, United Kingdom  -  19 July 2023:  Destiny Pharma plc (AIM: DEST), a clinical stage innovative biotechnology company focused on the development of novel medicines that can prevent life-threatening infections, announces that Chris Tovey will join the Company as Chief Executive Officer on 1 September 2023, taking over from Dr Debra Barker – interim CEO – who will return to her position as a Non-Executive Director.

The Company also announces the departure of Chairman, Nick Rodgers, who has resigned to pursue other interests. Discussions with a new outside chairman are very advanced with a further announcement expected shortly.

Chris is a highly experienced, senior pharmaceutical executive. He was most recently COO, Executive Vice President, and Managing Director of Europe and International at Jazz Pharmaceuticals following the acquisition of GW Pharmaceuticals (GW), where he served as COO, EVP, and a board director. Thus, Chris was a key part of the GW team that oversaw the significant growth and success of the organisation prior to Jazz’s $7.2bn acquisition of the company. Prior to GW, Chris held multiple senior commercial roles in the industry including VP and Head of Global Sales and Marketing at UCB Pharma and 18 years in senior commercial roles at GlaxoSmithKline in a wide range of therapeutic areas.

Incoming CEO, Chris Tovey, said: “I am delighted to be joining Destiny, where there is an incredibly exciting opportunity to progress a highly innovative product pipeline, targeting prevention of infections and representing powerful new offerings to the healthcare community that is seeking new approaches to treat and prevent infectious diseases. Central will be XF-73 which following on from excellent Phase 2b clinical data, and a positive endorsement from our Scientific Advisory Board, is Phase 3 ready for both US and European development. I am really looking forward to September, when I can take over the reins from Debra, who has made a significant impact in a short space of time.”

Departing Chairman, Nick Rodgers, said: “I am delighted with the progress Destiny Pharma has made since I joined as Chairman five years ago. In recent years, we have significantly advanced the clinical pipeline, with the acquisition and subsequent partnering of NTCD-M3 with Sebela, and the establishment of a robust $2bn plus market opportunity in the US with XF-73. Bringing Chris on as the new CEO is a critical appointment as the Company moves towards commercialising its advanced clinical stage assets, which have the potential to provide transformative treatments for patients. With Chris’s appointment agreed, it is the correct time for me to step back from the Company, and I wish Chris and the team every success as Destiny continues on its growth journey.”