The company’s Board of Directors has appointed Niklas Prager as new President and CEO of Medivir AB effective 1 September 2014. Prager will succeed Maris Hartmanis who now leaves the position of President and CEO of Medivir.

Niklas Prager holds a Degree of Master of Science in Business Administration and Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics, and has held a variety of different positions, mainly in the pharmaceutical industry, throughout his career, according to Medivir. Parger also has long experience from high-growth research- and technology-based companies as well as major international pharmaceutical companies. His previous positions include working for Merck & Co. Inc. both in the US and Sweden and serving as the CEO of Pfizer AB, Envirotainer AB and Qbtech AB.

Niklas has previously served as Chairman of the Board of BioPhausia, and he was elected to the Board of Medivir in May 2014.

”I am delighted to welcome Niklas to the position of CEO of Medivir,” says Birgitta Stymne Göransson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Medivir. ”The Board has carried out an extensive recruitment process during the spring which involved several highly qualified candidates. Niklas has a background in both biotech and big pharma, and his large network of contacts in the Swedish and international pharmaceutical industries make him an ideal choice for us. Niklas will in particular be able to contribute and strengthen Medivir in the important areas of strategic business development and commercialisation.”

“I look forward to taking up the position as CEO of Medivir,” says Niklas Prager. ”Medivir is an attractive company in an exciting phase of its development following the successful market introduction of simeprevir. Together with the Board, the highly skilled research team and all other Medivir employees, I will be focusing on further value creation and enhanced visibility of Medivir’s potential. An update of Medivir’s strategic plan is the number one priority, and work on this is already well under way.”

As Niklas Prager takes up the position of CEO of Medivir he will be leaving the company’s Board of Directors.