Visterra announced today that Brian J. G. Pereira, M.D., has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Pereira is joining the company at a time when the novel medicines developer is advancing its product candidates into human clinical trials for infectious diseases.
“I am excited to take on the opportunity and grow Visterra as the company takes the next steps to develop and commercialize innovative therapies for infectious and other diseases with such broad potential to impact global health,” said Dr. Pereira. “I envision Visterra as a company with the potential to deliver multiple products from its novel therapeutic platform, and I look forward to working with the strong team that is in place, so that together we will accelerate opportunities to develop and commercialize innovative medicines.”
A seasoned biopharmaceutical and healthcare leader, Dr. Pereira has significant experience in financing and growing companies, including the clinical development and commercialization of innovative drug products. From 2006 to 2011, Dr. Pereira served as the President and CEO of AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where he focused on rapidly creating value, raising four financing rounds at increasing valuations, and building the clinical development, manufacturing, supply-chain, commercial, and financial infrastructure for AMAG’s iron therapy product for anemia.
Prior to AMAG, Dr. Pereira served as the President and CEO of a Tufts Medical Center Physician Organization from 2001 to 2005. He also served in earlier roles at Tufts Medical Center, including Interim Chief Operating Officer in 2001, Vice-Chairman for Strategic Development of the Department of Medicine from 1999-2001, and as a staff physician beginning in 1993.
Dr. Pereira currently serves on the Board of Directors of Biodel, Inc., NephroPlus Ltd., The American India Foundation, and Youth That Care, Inc. He was the Chairman of the Board of the Harvard-MIT Biomedical Enterprise Program, President of the National Kidney Foundation (USA) from 2002 to 2004 and served on its Board for 10 years. He is an Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences and Tufts Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute. He has contributed over 200 published scientific articles and has edited the leading medical textbook on chronic kidney disease. He received his medical degree (MBBS) from St. John’s Medical College, MD and DM (Nephrology) from the Post Graduate Institute, and an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
In addition to his new roles as President and CEO, Dr. Pereira has also been appointed to Visterra’s the Board of Directors. He succeeds Steven Brugger, who is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.
“We thank Steve Brugger for his many contributions to Visterra. Under his leadership, we have built a team with extraordinary capabilities, developed a pipeline of products that have the potential for significant patient impact, forged a key collaboration with Pfizer, and secured an important strategic partnership with and equity investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” said Alan Crane, Chairman of Visterra’s Board of Directors and General Partner at Polaris Partners.
He continued, “We are extremely pleased that Brian Pereira has become Visterra’s CEO as the company embarks on its next stage of growth. Brian brings his proven industry leadership with an impressive track record for managing high-performance teams and building significant company value, and these skills will augment the expertise of the existing Visterra team to advance the company’s strategy and product development programs.”
For more information, visit www.visterrainc.com
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