PharmaDrug Inc. has announced that experienced pharma analyst and executive David Kideckel will be joining its board effective immediately.
In a statement, Daniel Cohen, chairman and CEO of PharmaDrug, commented: "We are absolutely thrilled to add the expertise of a member of David's calibre to our Board of Directors. David's unique combination of experience in big pharma, biotech and investment banking ideally suits PharmaDrug as it increasingly shifts its focus to a biotech strategy. We look forward to David's guidance on all matters ranging from scientific to regulatory to capital markets."
Kideckel joins PharmaDrug after nearly 20 years of combined industry and capital markets experience, most recently serving as Managing Director, Senior Institutional Equity Research Analyst at ATB Capital Markets. His industry experience spans several senior healthcare & biotechnology executive roles including at Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) Inc. and Alexion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ALXN) (acquired by AstraZeneca).
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Within Capital Markets, Kideckel was at the forefront of the biotech industry and was the sole Bay Street analyst to cover British-based GW Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Jazz Pharmaceuticals), the world leader in cannabinoid-derived pharmaceuticals. He also covered other Canadian and US Life Sciences staples such as Knight Therapeutics (TSX-V:GUD), Profound Medical, Cardiol Therapeutics (TSX:CRDL, NASDAQ:CRDL), and Willow Biosciences, where he was known for his thought leadership as well as his subsector expertise in FDA, EMA, and Health Canada regulations. Kideckel has a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Toronto.
Under the terms and conditions of the company's stock option plan, the PharmaDrug board of directors has approved the grant of 750,000 stock options to Kideckel. The options expire five years from the date of grant and are exercisable at the greater of the closing price of today August 30 or of the previous trading day August 27, 2021. 250,000 of the options vest immediately and 500,000 of the options vest in one-half increments after 6 months and 12 months.
PharmaDrug is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of controlled-substances and natural medicines such as psychedelics, cannabis and naturally-derived approved drugs.
The company owns 100% of Pharmadrug Production GmbH, a German medical cannabis distributor, with a Schedule I European Union narcotics license and German EuGMP certification allowing for the importation and distribution of medical cannabis to pharmacies in Germany and throughout the EU.
It also owns 100% of Super Smart, a Dutch company building a modern adult-use psychedelic retail business with an elevated and educational focus. PharmaDrug recently acquired Sairiyo Therapeutics, a biotech company that specializes in researching and reformulating established natural medicines with a goal of bringing them through regulatory and research-driven clinical trials.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com