Oslo, Norway-based biotech and Antarctic krill-harvesting company Aker BioMarine has appointed Douglas Hicks to the position of senior vice president of business development and strategy, with the remit to lead the business’ entry into the pharmaceutical segment.
Based in the United States, Hicks will play an integral role in the development of new product segments for Aker BioMarine’s LYSOVETA, the company’s krill-based LPC-EPA/DHA delivery platform that it launched in late 2020. He will develop and drive LYSOVETA’s growth outside of the company’s core supplement segment, with a focus on pharmaceutical and medical food applications.
Hicks has more than 20 years’ experience in corporate development and business strategy execution within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and venture capital segments. He most recently served as chief business officer for Travecta Therapeutics, Inc. Prior to his time at Travecta, he served as senior vice president of business development and strategy at iBio, Inc.
“We are still in the early days of our LYSOVETA project, and we needed a senior executive from the biotech and pharma space to support us on this journey,” Aker BioMarine CEO Matts Johansen said. “With Doug’s extensive experience, from both creating companies to developing products, he is the right person to help us map out the opportunity space for LYSOVETA and to look beyond Aker BioMarine’s current markets to maximize its potential.”
Aker BioMarine is currently partnering with researchers and academic institutions to gain a better understanding of LYSOVETA’s impact on human health.
“I see so much potential with using LYSOVETA in the development of therapies for serious diseases, and I’m thrilled to be a part of its advancement. I believe that strong collaborations will be essential to our success, and I aim to forge partnerships across the industry to untap the full value of LPC-EPA/DHA for the brain, eyes and other critical health areas,” Hicks said.
Photo courtesy of Aker BioMarine
