BOSTON, Jan. 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HilleVax, Inc. (Nasdaq: HLVX), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel vaccines, today announced the appointment of Sean McLoughlin as Chief Operating Officer. As part of a planned transition in connection with Mr. McLoughlin’s appointment, Co-founder and current Chief Operating Officer Dr. Aditya Kohli will remain a full-time executive with the company as Chief Business Officer, where he will be responsible for business development and corporate strategy. 

Mr. McLoughlin has three decades of commercial and operational experience in vaccines, most recently as the Global Vaccine Commercialization Lead, RSV at GSK. In this capacity, he was responsible for the successful commercial launch of GSK’s RSV product AREXVY. Prior to that Mr. McLoughlin held the position of New Product Strategy Lead, Vaccines Business Unit at GSK. He previously served as GSK’s U.S. Launch Lead, Shingrix. Mr. McLoughlin was at GSK for over 25 years, during which he held various leadership positions of increasing responsibility.

“We are excited to welcome Sean to HilleVax’s executive team as we continue to progress NEST-IN1, our Phase 2b clinical trial of HIL-214 for the prevention of moderate-to-severe norovirus-related acute gastroenteritis,” said Rob Hershberg, MD, PhD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HilleVax. “Sean’s deep experience in developing and launching vaccines will be instrumental to HilleVax as we advance HIL-214 towards commercialization.”

“I am thrilled to join HilleVax at such an exciting time and look forward to supporting the progress of HIL-214 as the potential first approved vaccine for norovirus infection,” said Mr. McLoughlin. “I have greatly enjoyed and appreciated my many years at GSK and am excited about bringing my experience to HilleVax to help address the unmet need associated with norovirus infections worldwide.”

About HilleVax

HilleVax is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel vaccines. Its initial program, HIL-214, is a virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccine candidate in development for the prevention of moderate-to-severe acute gastroenteritis (AGE) caused by norovirus infection. Globally, norovirus is estimated to result in over approximately 700 million cases of AGE and 200,000 deaths per year, resulting in over $4 billion in direct health system costs and $60 billion in societal costs per year. The burden of norovirus falls disproportionately on young children and older adults. For more information about HilleVax, visit the company’s website at http://www.HilleVax.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements

HilleVax cautions you that statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations and include, but are not limited to, the potential opportunity for and benefits of HIL-216 and HIL-214, the planned initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial of HIL-216 and the timing thereof, the expected timing of a data readout from the NEST-IN1 clinical trial, the advancement of HIL-214 to registration as the first norovirus vaccine, and longer-term market leadership plans. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business, including, without limitation: we currently depend entirely on the success of HIL-214, and we have not yet completed any clinical trials of HIL-214; potential delays in the commencement, enrollment, data readouts and completion of clinical trials and preclinical studies; our dependence on third parties in connection with manufacturing, research and clinical and preclinical testing; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate immunogenicity or efficacy of HIL-214, HIL-216 or any future vaccine candidates that may limit their development, regulatory approval, and/or commercialization; unfavorable results from clinical trials; results from prior clinical trials and studies not necessarily being predictive of future results; and unstable market and economic conditions may adversely affect our business and financial condition and the broader economy and biotechnology industry; regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries; any future impacts to our business resulting from military conflicts or other geopolitical developments outside our control; our reliance on intellectual property rights under our license agreements with Takeda Vaccines, Inc. and Kanghua Biological Products Co., Ltd.; our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce intellectual property protection for our vaccine candidates; we may use our capital resources sooner than we expect; and other risks described in our prior press releases and our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Contact:

Shane Maltbie 
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