Spero announces Kamal Hamed, MD, CMO departing effective August 29

Kamal Hamed, MD, Chief Medical Officer, is departing the Company, effective August 29 . John C. Pottage, Jr., M.D., a member of Spero’s Board of Directors since August 2018, with over 20 years of experience advancing therapeutics for infectious diseases, has been appointed Special Advisor to oversee the Company’s medical function, effective immediately, and will assume responsibility for oversight of Spero’s pipeline programs, including the ongoing clinical studies for SPR720 and Tebipenem HBr. Dr. Pottage has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific and Medical Officer of ViiV Healthcare, where he oversaw research and development, regulatory, safety and medical affairs. Prior to that, Dr. Pottage served as Senior Vice President and Head of the Infectious Disease Medicine Development Center at GSK (GSK) , and prior to that, as Vice President of Global Clinical Development of Antivirals at GSK. Earlier in his career he held senior clinical development roles at Achillion Pharmaceuticals and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, as well as various academic/ clinical positions at Rush University Medical Center. In connection with this appointment, Dr. Pottage has stepped aside from the Company’s audit committee, as he will not meet the independence requirements for service on the audit committee while serving as a Special Advisor to the company.