Date: 2015-08-18
Type of information: Nomination
Compound:
Company: Pieris (Germany)
Therapeutic area:
Type agreement: nomination
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Disease:
Details: * On August 18, 2015, Pieris Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company advancing novel biotherapeutics through its proprietary Anticalin® technology platform, announced that it has appointed Louis Matis, M.D., as Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer. Dr. Matis is an accomplished executive in the biotech industry and brings to Pieris a demonstrable track record of success in the development of novel biotherapeutics spanning more than two decades. Prior to joining Pieris, Dr. Matis served since June 2011 as Executive Director, Strategic Evaluation at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, where he also served from 1993 to 2000, during which time he advanced to the position of Chief Scientific Officer and had a leading role in discovering the first-in-class complement inhibitor monoclonal antibody Soliris® (eculizumab). Before re-joining Alexion in 2011, Dr Matis served as CEO of CGI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from 2000 to 2006, and of the Immune Tolerance Institute from 2007 to 2010. From 1977 until joining Alexion in 1993, Dr. Matis held senior research and clinical positions at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), in Bethesda, MD, and the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). Dr. Matis holds a B.A. from Amherst College and an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, receiving his clinical training in Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics, and in Medical Oncology at the NCI. Dr. Matis is the author of over 120 publications in major scientific and medical journals and is a co-inventor on multiple patents. In connection with the hiring of Dr. Matis, the Company\'s Compensation Committee authorized on July 18, 2015 the grant to Dr. Matis of a non-qualified stock option to purchase up to 500,000 shares of the Company\'s common stock, effective as of the first day of his employment, which grant was ratified by the full Board on July 18, 2015. The option grant is an inducement material to Dr. Matis\'s entering into employment with the Company in accordance with NASDAQ listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The option has an exercise price of $3.36 per share, the fair market value of the Company\'s common stock on the date of grant and will vest as to 25% of the shares on the first anniversary of Dr. Matis\'s employment and as to an additional 6.25% of the shares per quarter thereafter, provided that he continues to provide service to the Company on the applicable vesting date. The option has a ten year term and is subject to the terms and conditions of a stock option agreement.
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