Pharmalink AB, a specialty pharma company, announces the appointments of Kari Sandvold, Nora Sjödin and Ann-Kristin Myde and Liselotte Theorell, to key positions in its team as it prepares for the start of Phase III trials with its lead drug candidate Nefecon® in patients with the progressive inflammatory disease IgA nephropathy (IgAN) at risk of developing end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Kari Sandvold, MSc Pharm, joins Pharmalink as Vice President Pharmaceutical Development & Manufacturing. Ms. Sandvold has more than 25 years of extensive experience working with pharmaceutical development of new products and manufacturing, including Technology Transfer, CMC regulatory and clinical supply. Previous positions have been in both big pharma and in small/medium-sized pharma companies, and the most recent position was as Head of Pharmaceutical Development at Orexo AB.
Nora Sjödin, BSc, joins Pharmalink as Vice President Regulatory Affairs, bringing more than 20 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry; the last 17 of which were spent in Regulatory Affairs. Her professional background includes various senior positions, such as Global Regulatory Affairs Director at AstraZeneca, and prior to joining Pharmalink, she supported small- to mid-sized companies as a Principal Consultant at NDA Regulatory Service. Her experience covers all drug development phases from early development through to maintenance of licenses for products on the market. She has worked across various therapeutic areas and with small molecules and biologics. Her experience includes global regulatory strategies, Health Authority interactions in Europe, US and Asia. Mrs Sjödin has more than 15 years’ clinical experience from healthcare and hospitals prior to joining industry.
Ann-Kristin Myde, BSc, joins Pharmalink as Project Director. She has more than 25 years of experience gained working in global pharmaceutical companies, leading several global drug development and clinical project teams in all aspects from Phase I to Phase III and launch at Kabi Pharmacia and AstraZeneca. She holds a BSc in biochemistry from the University of Stockholm.
Liselotte Theorell, BSc, joins Pharmalink as Quality Assurance and Drug Safety Director bringing extensive operational experience in R&D and commercial quality management and regulatory affairs from over 30 years in the pharmaceutical and life science industry. Previously, she has worked at large and mid-size companies (Kabi Vitrum/ Pharmacia/ Biovitrum, 1995-2008) as well as small businesses (SentoClone/Moberg Pharma/Cellaviva, 2008-2016). In recent years, Ms. Theorell specialized in building startups, both virtual companies with extensive outsourcing activities and businesses with in-house manufacturing and R&D facilities.
Johan Häggblad, Managing Director of Pharmalink, said:
“These appointments come at an exciting time for the Company, having successfully completed the NEFIGAN Phase IIb clinical trial with Nefecon® in patients with IgA nephropathy at risk of end stage renal disease. As we expand our operations in preparation of the start of a pivotal Phase III study with Nefecon, we welcome Kari, Nora, Ann-Kristin and Liselotte to the team, each of whom bring with them exceptional experience and track records within the industry to the Company.”