Verona Pharma strengthens commercialization leadership team

LONDON and RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Verona Pharma plc (Nasdaq: VRNA) (“Verona Pharma” or the “Company”), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on respiratory diseases, continues its preparation for commercialization with appointments of Matthew Casbon, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Training, and Matthew Rysavy, Vice President of Market Access and Trade. They each bring approximately 25 years of commercialization expertise spanning marketing, sales, training, market access, trade and business development across a variety of therapeutic areas.

Chris Martin, Senior Vice President of Commercial, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Casbon and Mr. Rysavy to Verona Pharma at this exciting time of Company growth and progression. Last week, we reported positive Phase 3 results from our ENHANCE-2 trial evaluating nebulized ensifentrine for the maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”). We expect to report the results from our ongoing Phase 3 trial, ENHANCE-1, around the end of the year. If similar positive results are achieved, we plan to submit a New Drug Application to the US Food and Drug Administration in the first half of 2023. The leadership skills and wealth of experience of Mr. Casbon and Mr. Rysavy in launching novel therapeutics will be very valuable as we refine our go to market strategy for ensifentrine and begin our commercialization preparations.”

Mr. Casbon brings over 25 years of commercial healthcare experience to Verona Pharma. Previously, he served as Chief Business Officer of Target RWE, a real-world evidence solutions provider, where he was instrumental in building the business development function and completing a Series C financing. Prior to this, Mr. Casbon was at Circassia Pharmaceuticals, a global respiratory pharmaceutical and device company, serving as the Senior Vice President, Global Strategic Marketing, Training and Global Research Sales. Mr. Casbon was Associate Vice President of Marketing at Salix Pharmaceuticals until its acquisition by Valeant Pharmaceuticals and Business Director for the Cystic Fibrosis Franchise at Solvay Pharmaceuticals, where he spent over 13 years until Abbott Laboratories purchased the company. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from West Chester University.

Mr. Rysavy has over 24 years of pharmaceutical experience with 13 years in Market Access & Trade roles covering a broad range of products, channel management, and distribution strategies. Prior to Verona Pharma, Mr. Rysavy served as Head of Market Access and Trade at BioDelivery Sciences International, where he was responsible for building the Market Access team to support existing and launch products. He was instrumental in developing key contracting and distribution strategies for the company. Previously, Mr. Rysavy was Director of Market Access at US World Meds/HEMA Biologics where he was responsible for securing formulary access to the company’s new and existing products. Throughout his career, he has launched multiple products in Market Access roles working closely with major Pharmacy Benefit Management’s (PBM) and Payers across the US. Mr. Rysavy spent 13 years in roles of increasing responsibility at Salix Pharmaceuticals after starting his career at Johnson and Johnson. He received a Bachelor of Liberal Studies (BLS) degree from Iowa State University.

About Verona Pharma

Verona Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative therapies for the treatment of respiratory diseases with significant unmet medical needs. If successfully developed and approved, Verona Pharma’s product candidate, ensifentrine, has the potential to be the first therapy for the treatment of respiratory diseases that combines bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory activities in one compound. The Company is evaluating nebulized ensifentrine in its Phase 3 clinical program ENHANCE (“Ensifentrine as a Novel inHAled Nebulized COPD thErapy”) for COPD maintenance treatment. Ensifentrine met the primary endpoint in ENHANCE-2 demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in lung function. In addition, ensifentrine significantly reduced the rate of COPD exacerbations in the ENHANCE-2 trial. Two additional formulations of ensifentrine are in Phase 2 development for the treatment of COPD: dry powder inhaler (“DPI”) and pressurized metered-dose inhaler (“pMDI”). Ensifentrine has potential applications in cystic fibrosis, asthma and other respiratory diseases. For more information, please visit .

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from our expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.