Atara Biotherapeutics Names Kristin Yarema as Chief Commercial Officer
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Feb. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRA), a leading, off-the-shelf, allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy company developing novel treatments for patients with cancer, autoimmune and viral diseases, today named Kristin Yarema as Chief Commercial Officer, effective as of February 18, 2020.
Dr. Yarema has more than 20 years of biopharmaceutical experience during which she has led product strategy and commercialization for therapies at all stages of their life cycle, including those newly entering clinical development, products undergoing multi-region global launches, and maturing products seeking continued growth. She comes to Atara after most recently serving as Amgen’s Vice President & Therapeutic Area Head for Global Product Strategy & Commercial Innovation in Hematology and Oncology. In this role, she had global accountability for all marketed and pipeline products including a portfolio of innovative therapies for various hematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma, leukemia and lymphoma.
During her seven years at Amgen, Dr. Yarema also served in multiple U.S. commercial roles and as global therapeutic area head for other assets within Amgen’s portfolio, including those in neuroscience and autoimmune diseases; she also initiated programs in rare and orphan diseases. Earlier in her career, Dr. Yarema held numerous roles for Novartis and McKinsey & Company, where she led commercialization, portfolio planning, strategy, clinical development including for an orphan disease development program, and pricing and reimbursement projects for the companies across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
“We are thrilled Kristin is joining Atara as her hiring further demonstrates our confidence in the commercial potential of tab-cel® and our commitment to launch-readiness plans,” said Pascal Touchon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atara Biotherapeutics. “Her deep experience in early stage commercial strategy will also help us to create value across the pipeline to fulfill our mission of transforming the lives of patients with cancer, autoimmune and viral diseases.”
Dr. Yarema earned a Ph.D. in Biochemical Engineering from University of California, Berkeley and attended Stanford University where she earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering with Distinction and a B.A. in English with Distinction. In addition, she has served on the Board of Directors for the Celiac Disease Foundation, the U.S.-based patient advocacy group.
About Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc.
Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. (@Atarabio) is a leading off-the-shelf, allogeneic T-cell immunotherapy company developing novel treatments for patients with cancer, autoimmune and viral diseases. Atara’s technology platform leverages research collaborations with leading academic institutions with the Company’s scientific, clinical, regulatory and manufacturing expertise. Atara’s pipeline includes tab-cel® (tabelecleucel), which is in Phase 3 development for patients with Epstein-Barr virus-associated post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (EBV+ PTLD) as well as in earlier stage development for other EBV-associated hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); T-cell immunotherapies targeting EBV antigens believed to be important for the potential treatment of multiple sclerosis; and next-generation chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) immunotherapies. The company was founded in 2012 and is co-located in South San Francisco and Southern California. Our Southern California hub is anchored by the state-of-the-art Atara T-cell Operations and Manufacturing (ATOM) facility in Thousand Oaks, California. For additional information about the company, please visit atarabio.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains or may imply "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For example, forward-looking statements include statements regarding: Dr. Yarema joining Atara as Chief Commercial Officer and the related effective date; the commercial potential of tab-cel®; and Atara’s ability to realize its mission. Because such statements deal with future events and are based on Atara Biotherapeutics' current expectations, they are subject to various risks and uncertainties and actual results, performance or achievements of Atara Biotherapeutics could differ materially from those described in or implied by the statements in this press release. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in Atara Biotherapeutics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s most recently filed periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and subsequent filings and in the documents incorporated by reference therein. Except as otherwise required by law, Atara Biotherapeutics disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
INVESTOR & MEDIA CONTACTS:
Media
Kerry Beth Daly
Head, Corporate Communications
Atara Biotherapeutics
516-982-9328
kdaly@atarabio.com
Investors
John Craighead, Ph.D.
Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Atara Biotherapeutics
650-410-3012
jcraighead@atarabio.com
Released February 5, 2020