Epizyme Strengthens Leadership Team with Appointment Of Paolo Tombesi As Chief Financial Officer

Epizyme, Inc. (Nasdaq: EPZM), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel epigenetic therapies, today announced the appointment of Paolo Tombesi as chief financial officer, effective August 2019. Mr. Tombesi brings over 30 years of extensive financial and accounting expertise to Epizyme, most recently serving as the chief financial officer at Insmed, Incorporated.

“We are delighted to be bringing Paolo on board. His range of industry and financial experience will be invaluable to Epizyme as we prepare to transition to a commercial-stage company,” said Robert Bazemore, president and chief executive officer of Epizyme. “Paolo is a seasoned healthcare and financial executive with a distinguished track record of leading financial operations and strategy, overseeing capital allocation and fund raising. His experience spans both pre-commercial and commercial companies, as well as helping to lead companies through commercial transitions. On behalf of the entire Epizyme team, I would like to welcome Paolo to the team and look forward to his contributions.”

“Epizyme has made tremendous progress over the course of 2019, and I am overjoyed to be joining the company at such an exciting time,” said Mr. Tombesi. “I believe that the combination of a first-in-class investigational treatment that has true pipeline-in-a-product potential, an intriguing set of preclinical assets to further expand the portfolio and a talented team makes for a promising future. With one NDA submitted and a second on track for the fourth quarter, Epizyme is at a pivotal stage in its evolution. I look forward to collaborating with this seasoned team to turn our mission of rewriting treatments for patients with cancer and other serious diseases into a reality.”

During his time at Insmed, Mr. Tombesi played a key role in the evolution of the company from a late-stage to commercial organization. Mr. Tombesi was instrumental in the fundraising of more than $1 billion in equity and debt financings and the buildout of the finance team. He also led the establishment of Insmed’s subsidiary in Japan and the overall subsidiary build out. Prior to his role at Insmed, Incorporated, Mr. Tombesi served as the chief financial and administration officer at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation in the U.S. He joined Novartis in 2006 as chief financial officer, Europe, oncology, and held several positions of increasing responsibility, including serving as managing director and chief financial officer of Novartis Japan. Prior to joining Novartis, Mr. Tombesi held various financial positions with Bristol-Myers Squibb, including senior finance director, EMEA. He also previously held various positions with Unilever NV and Johnson & Johnson. Mr. Tombesi received a degree in business and managerial economics from Rome’s La Sapienza University and a degree in accounting from Duca degli Abruzzi Roma. – Bio Space