Framingham, Mass. – February 13, 2017 – Alzheon, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing new medicines for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological and psychiatric disorders, announced today the appointment of Neil Flanzraich, JD, as Chief Business Officer. In this role, Mr. Flanzraich will have responsibility for leading Alzheon’s corporate activities including business strategy, business development and legal affairs.
“I am delighted to welcome such an accomplished executive as Neil to the Alzheon team,” said Martin Tolar, MD, PhD, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alzheon. “Neil is an entrepreneur and investor with an exceptional track record driving business and financing strategies, and building value in pharmaceutical companies. His experience will be integral across many corporate functions as Alzheon grows so that our business is well positioned to advance ALZ-801 into pivotal clinical development for Alzheimer’s disease and to expand our pipeline opportunities.”
“It’s a privilege to join the Alzheon team and be a part of its mission to bring new medicines to patients with Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases,” said Mr. Flanzraich. “Alzheon has made tremendous progress in bringing forward ALZ-801 as a promising late-stage drug candidate for Alzheimer’s disease, which the company is developing with a pioneering ‘precision medicine’ approach to treat genetically-defined patient populations. With the unique potential for ALZ-801 and the outstanding team, Alzheon has a unparalleled opportunity to grow a valuable business and to offer the hope of a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.”
Mr. Flanzraich brings to Alzheon more than 30 years of executive leadership, operational and legal experience with pharmaceutical and life sciences companies. He will serve in the role of Chief Business Officer on a part-time basis as a consultant to the company. Previously, Mr. Flanzraich was Chief Executive Officer of Cantex Pharmaceuticals, a privately-owned biotechnology company, where he now serves as Executive Chairman. He is the founder and a principal of a venture capital firm, Leviathan Biopharma Group, LLC. Mr. Flanzraich served as Vice Chairman and President of IVAX Corporation, an international pharmaceutical company, for over seven years, prior to its sale in 2006 to TEVA Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd. for an enterprise value of $10 billion. Prior to his tenure at IVAX, Mr. Flanzraich served as Chairman of the Life Sciences Legal Practice Group of Heller Ehrman LLP, a law firm. Previously Mr. Flanzraich worked at Syntex Corporation, an international pharmaceutical company, where, as the Senior Vice President, and a member of both the Corporate Operating and Corporate Executive Committees, he made major contributions to the value of the company, which was acquired by Roche in 1994 for $5.3 billion.
Mr. Flanzraich was an early investor and member of the board of directors of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG), and is currently its lead independent director. In addition, Mr. Flanzraich is the lead independent director of Equity One, Inc. (NYSE: EQY). He was an independent director of Continucare Corporation (NYSE: CNU), a company with primary care centers, from 2002 to its sale in 2011. Mr. Flanzraich served for many years as the Chairman of the Israel America Foundation. He serves as an expert-in-residence for an entrepreneurship program at Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. Mr. Flanzraich received an AB (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from Harvard College and a JD from Harvard Law School.
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