HEIDELBERG, Germany, Dec. 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Affimed N.V. (Nasdaq: AFMD), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing highly targeted cancer immunotherapies, today announced that Andrew Curtis has joined Affimed as Head of Corporate Strategy and Business Development. He brings more than two decades of expertise from large pharmaceutical companies, most notably Pfizer, and as a biotechnology entrepreneur.
"As a seasoned executive in both the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, Andrew has a remarkable insight and understanding of the strategic and marketing aspects of drug development and commercialization," said Dr. Adi Hoess, CEO of Affimed. "We are excited to work with him in furthering Affimed's goal of becoming a global commercial oncology company with a focus on NK-cell and T-cell based therapies."
Andrew has spent more than twenty years in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, focusing on the licensing, commercial development and commercialization of new medicines for rare and neglected diseases. Since leaving Pfizer in 2014, Andrew has been involved in entrepreneurial and advisory activities. At Pfizer, Andrew led the Specialty Care Business Unit's External Opportunities and New Business team as well as Pfizer's BioTherapeutic's Business Innovation and Strategy team, focusing on novel Open Innovation models in support of the BioTherapeutics R&D organization. Previously, Andrew was Global Team Lead for the Biosimilars and Orphan Drugs division within Pfizer's Established Products Business Unit, where he crafted the company's first-ever rare disease unit and biosimilar program strategies.
Prior to rejoining Pfizer in 2008, Andrew was CEO of Jerini US Inc., a company focused on the development and commercialization of icatibant, a treatment for hereditary angioedema, subsequently commercialized under the brand name Firazyr by Shire after it acquired Jerini in 2008. His career also includes commercial marketing and sales positions with Pfizer, Genzyme, TargetRx, J&J, and Merck. Andrew holds a B.A. from Muhlenberg College and a M.A. from Lehigh University.
About Affimed N.V.
Affimed (Nasdaq: AFMD ) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing highly targeted cancer immunotherapies. Affimed's product candidates are being developed in the field of immuno-oncology, which represents an innovative approach to cancer treatment that seeks to harness the body's own immune defenses to fight tumor cells. The most potent cells of the human defense arsenal are types of white blood cells called natural killer cells, or NK-cells, and T-cells. Affimed's proprietary, next-generation bispecific antibodies, called TandAbs for their tandem antibody structure, are designed to direct and establish a bridge between either NK-cells or T-cells and cancer cells, triggering a signal cascade that leads to the destruction of cancer cells. Affimed has focused its research and development efforts on three proprietary TandAb programs for which it retains global commercial rights. For more information, please visit www.affimed.com .
Affimed N.V. Caroline Stewart, Head IR & Communication Phone: +1 347394 6793 E-Mail: or Media requests: Anca Alexandru or Gretchen Schweitzer MacDougall Biomedical Communications Phone: +49 89 2424 3494 or +49 172 861 8540 E-Mail:
