Argenx names new chief executive
Belgian-Dutch biotech company Argenx has announced a change at the top. Co-founder and current CEO Tim Van Hauwermeiren will step aside after 18 years to become chair of the board. Chief operating officer Karen Massey will take over as CEO.
The changes will be put to shareholders at the annual meeting on 6 May. Current chair Peter Verhaeghe will also step down after 18 years.
Argenx focuses on treatments for autoimmune diseases and has grown from a small start-up into a global biotech player. Its key drug, Vyvgart, is used to treat rare conditions such as myasthenia gravis and CIDP, and has delivered strong sales growth. Last year, the company reported quarterly revenues of more than 1 billion dollars for the first time and joined the Euro Stoxx 50 index.
Van Hauwermeiren said his long-term goal had always been to build “a strong, independent biotech company”. “This transition is the next step, and Karen is the right person to lead Argenx forward”, he said.
Massey is Australian and previously worked for major pharmaceutical companies including Roche and Pfizer.
Argenx was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Ghent. It employs around 1,750 people worldwide and has a market value of about 45 billion euros.
#FlandersNewsService | Former Belgian PM Alexander De Croo and former EU Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager visit Argenx © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
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