Exhibit 99.1
Spero Announces Appointment of John C. Pottage, Jr., MD to its Board of Directors
Spero adds broad leadership and scientific expertise to its Board of Directors with appointment of John Pottage
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. August 14, 2018 — Spero Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPRO), a multi-asset clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on identifying, developing and commercializing novel treatments for multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, today announced the appointment of John C. Pottage, Jr., M.D. to its Board of Directors, effective immediately prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors on September 21, 2018. Dr. Pottage has more than 20 years of corporate leadership and scientific experience within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, currently serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of ViiV Healthcare, where he oversees research and development, regulatory, safety and medical affairs. Dr. Pottage is succeeding Casper Breum, who has been a long-standing director of Spero since it was a private company and is making a planned transition from the Board, effective upon Dr. Pottage’s appointment.
“We are excited to welcome John to our Board of Directors,” said Ankit Mahadevia, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Spero Therapeutics. “John’s expansive development, operational, and leadership experience within the infectious disease field will help guide Spero as we continue the rapid advancement of our clinical-stage pipeline in an effort to bring novel therapies to market that address the growing threat of multidrug-resistant bacteria.”
Dr. Mahadevia added, “We would also like to thank Casper for his many contributions to Spero’s Board over the last three years as we’ve emerged into a multi-asset public company.”
Prior to joining ViiV Healthcare, Dr. Pottage served as Senior Vice President and Head of the Infectious Disease Medicine Development Center at GlaxoSmithKline from September 2008 to November 2009, and prior to that, from June 2007 to September 2008, as Vice President of Global Clinical Development of Antivirals at GlaxoSmithKline. From May 2002 to May 2007, Dr. Pottage served as Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Drug Development of Achillion Pharmaceuticals. Prior to Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Pottage served as Medical Director of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, and in various positions at Rush University Medical Center.
“This is a transformational time for the company with the initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 trial for SPR994 expected aroundyear-end and multiple clinical catalysts on the horizon,” Dr. Pottage said. “I’m delighted to join the Board and look forward to working with the management team and the board to advance Spero’s robust pipeline.”
Dr. Pottage presently serves on the advisory board of Medicines for Malaria Venture in Geneva, Switzerland. He received his A.B. in biology from Colgate University and his M.D. from Saint Louis University School of Medicine.