Bavarian Nordic Establishes New Company in Washington, DC, USA
Bavarian Nordic expects an expanding cooperation with US governmental authorities on the approval and marketing of new vaccines, including IMVAMUNE smallpox vaccine as well as the company’s HIV and cancer vaccines.
The new company’s primary business area will be to ensure efficient service to US governmental authorities and to develop the market for Bavarian Nordic’s vaccines in the USA. The company will play a central role in the registration of IMVAMUNE smallpox vaccine with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Espen Kateraas has been appointed to the position of General Manager, Vice President as of 1 July, 2006 and will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the new company, Bavarian Nordic Inc., to be located in Washington, DC.
Espen Kateraas comes from Becton Dickinson where he has been Senior Manager, Worldwide Marketing for Becton Dickinson’s Immunization and Biodefense & Public Health Preparedness business areas
Elizabeth Dempsey Becker, Director of Public Affairs and Communications for Bavarian Nordic A/S will be employed in the new company in Washington, DC with special focus on strengthening the Government Affairs area.
Peter Wulff, President and CEO commented, “We started more than a year ago a plan to expand our business activities and strengthen Bavarian Nordic’s presence in the USA. The establishment of BN ImmunoTherapeutics Inc. was the first step. The establishment of Bavarian Nordic Inc. is the next step. The continuing positive results we have seen with MVA-BN® in clinical trials as a safe smallpox vaccine have led to an increased interest from both the public and private markets in our HIV and cancer vaccine development programmes and in the potential of MVA-BN® as a safe vaccine vector. The time is right to broaden our business activities in the US, and Espen Kateraas will contribute to achieving these goals with his in-depth knowledge of the US and global vaccine market.”
