27 November 2018 - - US-based immunotherapeutics developer Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE American: NAVB) has appointed Kathy Rouan, PhD, to the company's board of directors, effective 1 December, the company said.

Dr. Rouan was appointed SVP and head of projects, clinical platforms and sciences at GSK in May 2016.

The PCPS organisation within GSK encompasses the global clinical operations, statistics and programming, clinical pharmacology, GCP quality, third party resourcing and project management functions and includes approximately 1,800 staff in 20 countries.

She first joined GSK in 1989 with a background in pharmaceutical sciences, focusing on formulation development of protein pharmaceuticals. 

In 1993, Dr. Rouan moved into project leadership and management becoming VP and head of metabolism and pulmonary project management in 1999.

She continued to lead projects in a number of therapeutic areas including cardiovascular, immunoinflammation and gastroenterology therapy areas.

In 2007, Dr. Rouan led the development, submission and approval of Arzerra (ofatumumab) in refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

In 2012, she became head of biopharmaceutical development responsible for delivery of GSK's portfolio of biopharmaceutical medicines. In December 2013, Dr. Rouan was appointed SVP and head of R and D Stiefel, GSK's dermatology therapy area unit. 

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of precision immunodiagnostic agents and immunotherapeutics.

The company is developing multiple precision-targeted products based on its Manocept platform to enhance patient care by identifying the sites and pathways of disease and enable better diagnostic accuracy, clinical decision-making, and targeted treatment.

Navidea's Manocept platform is predicated on the ability to specifically target the CD206 mannose receptor expressed on activated macrophages.

The Manocept platform serves as the molecular backbone of Tc99m tilmanocept, the first product developed and commercialized by Navidea based on the platform.

The development activities of the Manocept immunotherapeutic platform are being conducted by Navidea in conjunction with its subsidiary, Macrophage Therapeutics, Inc.

Navidea's strategy is to deliver superior growth and shareholder return by bringing to market novel products and advancing the company's pipeline through global partnering and commercialisation efforts.