CEO Today United Kingdom Awards

19 www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today United Kingdom Awards 2018 BIOTECHNOLOGY LUDWIG HANTSON CEO of Alexion FIRM PROFILE Alexion (NASDAQ: ALXN) is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on serving patients and families affected by rare diseases through the discovery, development and commercialization of life-changing therapies. Since its founding in 1992, Alexion has given hope to people who had none and shined a light on those who felt isolated and alone. But we know that fighting rare diseases takes so much more than hope. It requires persistence, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of the highest levels of medical innovation. At Alexion, our goal is to deliver medical breakthroughs where none currently exist. We are driven because we know people’s lives are at stake. Alexion has 2,500 passionate and dedicated employees serving patients in 50 countries around the world. OUR BREAKTHROUGH THERAPIES Through the transformative power of our science, Alexion has delivered life-changing therapies to patients suffering from rare diseases. We have pioneered the complex field of complement biology and delivered solutions to challenges that once seemed impossible for patients with devastating complement-mediated and metabolic disorders. AlexiondevelopedSoliris®(eculizumab), theworld’s first approved terminal complement inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), and anti-acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). Alexion also has two highly innovative enzyme replacement therapies for patients with life-threatening and ultra-rare metabolic disorders—Strensiq® (asfotase alfa) for patients with hypophosphatasia (HPP) and Kanuma® (sebelipase alfa) for patients with lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D). OUR FUTURE Alexion’s ambition is to be the global leader in rare diseases. By leveraging our 20+ years of expertise in complement biology and our capabilities in hematology, nephrology, neurology, and metabolic disorders, we will bring additional life-changing therapies to patients and redefine what it means to live with a rare disease. Our legacy will be measured in the families we serve today and the generations that follow. ABOUT LUDWIG HANTSON Ludwig N. Hantson, Ph.D., is Chief Executive Officer of Alexion. Dr. Hantson is an accomplished healthcare executive with more than 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Prior to joining Alexion, Dr. Hantson was President and Chief Executive Officer of Baxalta and also served on the company’s Board of Directors. He led Baxalta’s successful spin-off as a public company from Baxter in July 2015 where he was President of Baxter BioScience. Dr. Hantson joined Baxter in May 2010 and established the BioScience division as one of the most innovative specialty and rare disease companies by building a robust pipeline of 25 new product candidates, and launching 13 new products. Dr. Hantson held several leadership roles during his decade-long tenure at Novartis from 2001-2010, including CEO of Pharma North America, CEO of Europe, and President of Pharma Canada. Prior to Novartis, he spent 13 years with Johnson & Johnson in roles of increasing responsibility in marketing, and research and development. Dr. Hantson received his Ph.D. in motor rehabilitation and physical therapy, master’s degree in physical education, and a certification in high secondary education, all from the University of Louvain in Belgium.