PharmAust Limited announced the appointment of Dr Michael Thurn, PhD, as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Dr Thurn will assume the role on 1 September 2023. Michael brings broad experience in drug discovery, development, regulation and commercialisation, acquired through leadership roles in research organizations and industry, including early-stage, fast-growing, private and publicly listed biotechnology companies.

His previous responsibilities have included leading a variety of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational New Drug (IND) applications across a range of therapeutic areas and the evaluation of drugs and vaccines for registration in Australia as a part of the Drug Safety Evaluation Branch (DSEB) of the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA). Michael has also been responsible for the execution of Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials and business development activities across animal and human health products. He possesses strong entrepreneurial, leadership and management skills that have seen him achieve outstanding results over a 25 year career in the biotechnology industry, including co-founding MARP Therapeutics and roles with Botanix Pharmaceuticals, Mimetica, Spinifex Pharmaceuticals, Cytopia, Xenome and Novogen.

During this time, Michael has gained Australian and US capital markets exposure and has successfully accessed funding through private and public channels, partnerships and non-dilutive means. Dr Roger Aston will remain Chairman of the Board but will transition into a non-executive role assisting with his 40 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry.