Press Release
Sequana Medical Announces the Appointment of Kirsten Van Bockstaele as Chief Financial Officer
Zurich, SWITZERLAND – July 12, 2018 – Sequana Medical AG (“Sequana Medical”), a commercial stage medical device company focused on the development of innovative treatment solutions for the management of liver disease, heart failure, malignant ascites and other fluid imbalance disorders, announces today the appointment of Kirsten Van Bockstaele as Chief Financial Officer, with immediate effect. Kirsten is a seasoned finance executive with extensive international experience in the healthcare industry.
Kirsten joins Sequana Medical from Fagron (formerly Arseus), an international pharmaceutical compounding company. Within Fagron, she held a number of senior financial roles, most recently as Vice President of Finance, North America. In this role, Kirsten was responsible for creating and overseeing the company’s financial strategy and policy, positioning Fagron’s North American companies for growth. She also played a pivotal role in building out the North American headquarters, supporting the financial integration of acquisitions and assisting in redirecting the company’s strategy.
Kirsten previously served as Chief Financial Officer for Arseus Dental & Medical Solutions, where she was instrumental in the coordination, support and control of financial activities in key European countries. Her previous roles include Financial Controller at Omega Pharma and Audit Manager at PwC. Kirsten has a degree in Financial and Fiscal Sciences from the University of Antwerp, Belgium.
“We are delighted to welcome Kirsten to Sequana Medical. Kirsten brings significant industry experience and a proven track record of building and leading financial functions in the international healthcare sector,” said Ian Crosbie, Chief Executive Officer, Sequana Medical. “Her expertise and insights will be hugely valuable as we continue to strengthen the Company for long-term growth and expand commercialisation of the alfa pump ® system.”
“I am delighted to join Sequana Medical during this exciting time of growth,” added Kirsten Van Bockstaele, Chief Financial Officer, Sequana Medical. “Sequana Medical is a true innovator in the management of liver disease, heart failure and other fluid imbalance disorders and I look forward to working with Ian and the team in continuing to bring improved treatment options to patients.”
Contacts: Sequana Medical AG Lies Vanneste Director IR +32 498 05 35 79 IR@sequanamedical.com
Consilium Strategic Communications Amber Fennell, Sukaina Virji Tel: +44 (0) 203 709 5000 Email: sequanamedical@consilium-comms.com
ENDS
Note to Editors
About Sequana Medical:
Sequana Medical is a commercial stage medical device company focused on the development of innovative treatment solutions for the management of liver disease, heart failure, malignant ascites and other fluid imbalance disorders.
The first product, alfa pump ® , is a fully implantable, programmable, wirelessly-charged, battery-powered system that is CE-marked for i) the management of refractory ascites (chronic fluid build-up in the abdomen) due to liver cirrhosis and ii) malignant ascites (with a life expectancy of six months or less). The number of patients with refractory ascites is forecast to increase dramatically due to the growing prevalence of NASH (Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis), particularly in North America.
Over 650 alfa pumps ® have been implanted and since 2018, the alfa pump ® is included in the EASL clinical practice guidelines for decompensated cirrhosis. The alfa pump ® MOSAIC IDE feasibility study with refractory or recurrent cirrhotic ascites is complete and initial results were presented at the AASLD in October 2017.
The alfa pump ® is one of the first real alternatives to large-volume paracentesis, a lengthy, invasive and painful procedure that can require weekly hospital visits for drainage of excess fluid. By automatically and continuously moving ascites to the bladder, where the body eliminates it naturally through urination, the alfa pump ® prevents fluid build-up and its possible complications, improving patient quality of life and nutrition, and potentially reducing hospital visits and healthcare costs. The alfa pump ® DirectLink Technology allows clinicians to receive pump performance information and more effectively manage patients treated by the alfa pump ® .
Sequana Medical’s Direct Sodium Removal (DSR) therapy is in development for the management of fluid overload in heart failure. Data from animal studies presented at EuroPCR 2018 demonstrated DSR therapy to be both effective and safe. Treatment of fluid overload in diuretic-resistant patients is a major clinical challenge. There are an estimated one million hospitalisations due to heart failure in the US each year, of which 90% are due to fluid overload. The estimated cost of heart failure related hospitalisations in the US is $13 billion.
The Company is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland and investors include NeoMed Management, Life Science Partners, VI Partners, Biomed Invest, Capricorn Health Tech, Entrepreneur’s Fund and Salus Partners. For further information, please visit www.sequanamedical.com .
