Industry veteran Dr David Setboun joins BrainStorm as Executive VP and COO

BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, a firm developing cellular therapies to tackle neurodegenerative diseases, has named industry Big Pharma veteran Dr David Setboun as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

Dr Setboun has served for two decades at some of the biggest names in pharma. His most recent role was Vice President of Corporate Development, Strategy & Business at Life Biosciences, where he helped drive development of a range of vital commercial, operating and funding milestones.

Prior to this, he held the role of President, Biogen France between June 2015 and June 2018, where he managed the launch of the company’s rare disease portfolio and key neurology products, and oversaw its biosimilar business unit.  

And before this, Dr Setboun was President of AstraZeneca Portugal from 2012 to 2015, managing a product portfolio that generated more than $200 million per year. Previously, he also served as the company’s Vice President, Europe, managing the organisation’s European Sales and Marketing function. He also directed national and international teams at Eli Lilly in France from 2002 to 2009.

“David’s experience launching products for international biopharmaceutical companies and his expertise in commercial, business development and investments, make him an outstanding new member of the BrainStorm leadership team,” commented Chaim Lebovits, Chief Executive Officer of BrainStorm. “His extensive experience at all levels of sales and marketing, coupled with his business strategy experience comes to us at a critical time in the evolution of NurOwn and helps us achieve our goal of bringing new treatment options to patients afflicted with neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS and progressive MS.”

Dr Setboun gave his thoughts on his new appointment: “BrainStorm’s investigational therapy, NurOwn is an amazing technology platform that has the potential to bring treatment to those with ALS and progressive MS and other neurodegenerative indications. With a fully enrolled Phase 3 Pivotal Trial for ALS in place, a Phase 2 Trial for progressive MS, an investigational platform in exosomes and the most ambitious biomarker programme in ALS, I know I am joining a company with outstanding potential.”