Biotechnology company Argenica Therapeutics (ASX: AGN) which is a developing novel therapeutics to reduce brain tissue death after stroke and other neurological conditions, has made two appointments in Dr Mark Etherton and Rob Black as non-executive directors.
The new directors bring significant industry-based skills and experience in neurology drug development and financial markets acumen to support the transition and growth of Argenica into a pharmaceutical development company.
After qualifying with an M.D. and Ph.D in Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Centre, Dr Etherton has held senior academic positions including Chief Resident at Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Neurology, and Instructor and Assistant Professor in Neurology at Harvard Medical School.
Notably he was appointed as Director, Acute Stroke Service and Associate Director, Comprehensive Stroke Centre at the Massachusetts General Hospital in 2020. In 2022/2023 Dr Etherton was appointed Associate Medical Director at Biogen Inc. directing Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials in brain contusion and stroke respectively. Most recently, Dr Etherton was recruited by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the world’s 15th largest pharmaceutical company, as its Medical Director.
“Mark brings deep clinical research expertise in neurology, stroke and traumatic brain injury together with current pharmaceutical industry knowledge on the progression and development of clinical neurology drugs,” Argenica Chair, Dianne Angus, said.
“This experience at the board level is highly relevant to Argenica as it navigates through the clinical and regulatory pathways to market.
\Rob Black has extensive experience in equity capital markets working in London, Sydney and Melbourne as a stockbroker before joining Euroz Securities in Perth in 2002, heading up Institutional Sales in 2008. In 2014 he was appointed Managing Director, driving stakeholder and investor engagement, and undertaking several substantial mergers and acquisitions to achieve business growth.
In 2022, Mr Black became Head of Equity Capital Markets Syndication at Euroz Hartleys overseeing over $2 billion in capital raisings. Currently, Mr Black serves as Chair of Carnavon Energy Limited.
He holds a B. Business degree and is a Graduate of the AICD.
“Rob brings to Argenica his strong financial and commercial acumen in addition to his long involvement and expertise in equity capital markets,” Ms Angus said.
“His accomplishments in building investor relations, financial management and corporate governance will serve the company very well as it transitions and matures as a neurology pharmaceutical development company.
“The Board will continue to actively review its requirements to ensure the company has the appropriate breadth of capabilities to support business growth. The appointment of Mark and Rob aligns with that objective, and we are delighted to welcome them to Argenica.”