CMP Therapeutics Appoints Dr Neill Moray Mackenzie as CEO

CMP Therapeutics (CMPT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Neill Moray Mackenzie to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Dr Mackenzie brings to CMPT a long record of executive board level management within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries at companies including Cambridge Genetics Ltd, Oxford Biomedica plc (an LSE listed company), Avidex Ltd (now Immunocore) and most recently as the SVP for Business Development and Corporate Strategy at Medigene AG (a Borse-listed company) and CEO of Roji Ltd (London). In addition, Dr MacKenzie was formerly a Departmental Head in Vaccine R&D at Wellcome and a Wellcome Lecturer in Immunology at the University of London.

CMPT also announces the injection of a €1.5million convertible loan from Inventages Venture Capital to support continuing operations and the upcoming clinical trial of its lead product for the common cold. CMPT has been supported solely by investments from London-based Inventages Venture Capital and New Zealand-based BioPacificVentures since 2005.

Dr Achim Kaufhold, Chairman of CMPT said “Now is a pivotal time for CMPT as we move into advanced clinical development for our lead product and we are delighted to welcome Dr Mackenzie as CEO. He combines proven experience in driving the corporate development of spin-outs from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford with a highly relevant academic background in immunology and is ideally placed to ensure the rapid realisation of the value of our ground breaking technology.”

Dr Mackenzie said: “I am delighted to have been chosen for this role. CMPT is based on unique science from the Medical Research Council’s Histochemistry Unit in the University of Oxford and has opportunities in major therapeutic markets such as viral infection, allergy and also functional foods. With a lead compound that has Over-The-Counter (OTC) potential as a treatment for the common cold we hope to be ready for the market shortly after we have completed clinical trials over the next two years”.

Dr Bruce Savage, the former CEO, leaves CMPT to concentrate on his other portfolio companies. The Board would like to thank him for his efforts over the years in building the Company.