Oxurion NV appoints Tom Graney, CFA as Chief Executive Officer
Oxurion NV, a biopharmaceutical company developing next generation standard of care ophthalmic therapies, with a clinical stage portfolio in retinal vascular disorders, announces in a planned succession, the promotion of Tom Graney, CFA from Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company. He takes over from Dr. Patrik De Haes, who after 14 years as CEO, has decided to move away from day-to-day management of the company to become the Non-executive Chairman of Oxurion. Thomas Clay, the outgoing Chairman of Oxurion, will remain on the Board as a Non-executive Director of the company.
Mr. Graney has extensive capital markets and business development experience in biotech as the CFO of several successful public companies. This includes having raised >$500M in capital for highly innovative companies like Oxurion and completing a number of value creating business development transactions. Tom also has an impressive track record of developing high performing teams and talent everywhere he has worked both in the United States and Europe.
Tom’s transatlantic experience in creating significant company and shareholder value makes him uniquely qualified to lead Oxurion as its next CEO as it moves its highly differentiated assets through clinical development.
Tom joined Oxurion as CFO in October 2020, and has over 25 years’ experience in senior finance, strategy, business development and operational roles including most recently as CFO of Generation Bio (NASDAQ: GBIO), and before that CFO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: VRTX), and CFO and Head of Corporate Strategy at Ironwood Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: IRWD). Earlier in his career he spent 20 years with Johnson and Johnson, including CFO roles at Ethicon, Tibotec and Janssen. Tom also serves on the board of AC Immune (NASDAQ: ACIU).
Tom has an MBA in finance, marketing and international business from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at New York University and a BS in accounting from the University of Delaware. He is also a CFA charterholder.
Tom Graney, the incoming CEO of Oxurion, said, “I am very excited and honored to become the CEO of Oxurion as we build out our plan to create an important ophthalmic company grounded in exceptional science. I am confident that with THR-149 and THR-687, two highly promising and differentiated new drug candidates, coupled with our extremely talented team, Oxurion has the potential to successfully address a broad range of retinal vascular disorders. This would allow us to generate significant value for patients, payors and shareholders as we look to disrupt and grow the $12 billion market for retinal vascular disorders.”
Patrik De Haes M.D., the incoming Chairman of Oxurion, said, “I am looking forward to supporting Tom and the rest of the Oxurion team in my new role as Chairman as we deliver a number of important clinical development milestones in the months ahead. I am confident that our drug candidates that have the potential to make a significant difference to the lives of the large number of patients with sight threatening disease, who require better treatment options.”
Thomas Clay, outgoing Chairman of Oxurion, commented, “I would like to thank Patrik for his high level of commitment and leadership to Oxurion over the past 14 years and his desire to continue as Chairman of the company. Oxurion is well placed for future success given its industry-leading pipeline of next generation standard of care ophthalmic therapies and a highly experienced team. I look forward to working with Tom, Patrik and the rest of the board as a Non-executive Director of Oxurion as we look to realize a significant opportunity to bring value to patients and shareholders as we progress the clinical development of THR-149 and THR-687 in diabetic macular edema and other important retinal vascular disorders.”