Kiadis names former Ablynx exec as CSO

Dutch biopharma Kiadis Pharma (Euronext: KDS) has announced the appointment of Robert Friesen as chief scientific officer (CSO) effective February 1, 2019.

Dr Friesen will lead the company's science, discovery and pre-clinical development activities and will be instrumental in building the company’s scientific platform and identifying other programs for potential in-license. Dr Friesen will report to Kiadis chief executive Arthur Lahr and will be a member of the company’s management team

Dr Friesen has more than 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, leading multiple R&D organizations. He joins Kiadis from Ablynx where he was CSO until its acquisition by Sanofi (Euronext: SAN). At Ablynx, Dr Friesen oversaw a team of more than 300 people who were responsible for more than 40 development-stage product candidates across a wide range of diseases.