Biothera Appoints CFO

Andrew D.C. LaFrence, CPA has been appointed senior vice president and chief financial officer, effective May 29, of Biothera Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage immuno-oncology company.

Mr. LaFrence has 34 years of accounting and finance experience, including executive management positions at public and private life sciences companies. He succeeds interim chief financial officer Steve Karel, who will continue to serve on Biothera’s board of directors. 

Previously, Mr. LaFrence served as vice president finance, Information Systems and chief financial officer at Surmodics, Inc.  Prior to Surmodics, he served as chief financial officer for CNS Therapeutics, a venture-backed intrathecal drug company that was later sold to Mallinckrodt, then a subsidiary of Covidien. Mr. LaFrence was also an audit partner at KPMG LLP where he focused on supporting venture-backed, high-growth medical technology, pharmaceutical, biotech and clean tech private and public companies. 

"We are pleased to welcome Andy to the Biothera management team, following his longstanding contributions as a member of our board," said Barry Labinger, Biothera Pharmaceuticals’ president and chief executive officer.  "Andy’s deep knowledge of Biothera and his extensive experience leading and advising both private and public companies will be instrumental as we execute our business plan."

"We thank Steve Karel for his outstanding leadership as the interim Chief Financial Officer," Mr. Labinger added.  "We will continue to benefit from Steve’s guidance as a Director of Biothera."

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