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4d Pharma adds veteran US finance chief and non-executive director ahead of NASDAQ listing

Published: 08:47 01 Mar 2021 GMT

4D pharma PLC -

4d Pharma PLC (LON:DDDD) has further prepared for its New York listing by appointing a chief financial officer and a non-executive director with extensive US corporate experience.

John Beck, who brings over 30 years of experience in financial and biopharmaceutical industry management, including three previous roles as chief financial officer, has been appointed CFO of 4D.

READ: 4D pharma inks clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck and Pfizer

At his previous positions, the company said Beck “achieved considerable results in areas including finance, business and corporate development, strategy, and commercialization”.

Duncan Peyton, chief executive of 4D, said: "John will be an important addition to 4D pharma's management team at such a pivotal time, as the company prepares to close our SPAC merger and begin trading on NASDAQ. His deep experience and financial expertise as a CFO of several publicly traded life sciences companies will be critical as we further grow our company and global footprint.”

At his previous role as CFO of Ritter Pharmaceuticals from May 2018 to May 2020, he oversaw its successful merger with Qualigen Therapeutics Inc; before that at Ardea Biosciences he raised over US$160mln, executed a US$400mln licensing transaction with Bayer Pharmaceuticals and completed a US$1.26bn takeover by AstraZeneca.

Beck said: “With several key data readouts upcoming and our potential listing on NASDAQ, I believe 4D is well positioned to expand and enhance its investor base and drive further shareholder value for the remainder of 2021.”

Paul Maier, another experienced US operator, has been appointed as a non-executive director of the board, also serve as the company's "audit committee financial expert" under SEC and Nasdaq rules.

Said Peyton: “With over 25 years of extensive senior operational, international and financial management experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, Paul will be able to provide 4D pharma with invaluable insights as we continue to execute across our business both clinically and operationally. Paul's strong track record will support our Board with additional perspective and expertise."

Previously Maier was CFO of Sequenom Inc, where he was responsible for raising over US$360mln in equity and debt financings, expanding institutional sell side research analyst coverage, as well as overseeing and establishing internal financial infrastructure; before this at Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:LGND) he helped build the company from a venture stage company to a commercial, integrated biopharmaceutical organization, raising over US$1bn in equity and debt financings including a successful IPO, and helped negotiate multiple R&D and commercial partnerships and transactions.

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