Pulse Biosciences added a new chief operating officer and widened the remit of its chief medical officer as it pushes its nPulse cardiac catheter program forward.
Liane Teplitsky was appointed chief operating officer, taking charge of the company’s clinical, regulatory, quality and commercial functions. David Kenigsberg, MD, expanded his role to full-time chief medical officer.
Teplitsky arrives with 20 years of medical technology leadership experience. She most recently was chief executive officer of Artedrone and previously held senior marketing and commercial roles at Abbott Laboratories and St. Jude Medical. She also served as president of robotics, technology and data solutions at Zimmer Biomet.
The company said Teplitsky’s hiring and Kenigsberg’s expanded commitment are meant to accelerate development and future commercialization of the nPulse Cardiac Catheter Ablation System.
Pulse also disclosed the equity package tied to Teplitsky’s start. She received an inducement stock option to buy up to 700,000 shares at $19.06 a share and 200,000 restricted stock units. Of the option grant, 200,000 shares are time-based and vest 25% on each of her first four anniversaries. The remaining 500,000 option shares and the 200,000 RSUs are tied to performance milestones linked to market capitalization and future revenues.
In addition, Pulse granted inducement options to two other new hires for an aggregate 7,700 shares, also priced at $19.06 a share. Those awards vest over four years, with one-quarter vesting annually.
The leadership changes come as Pulse advances its IDE pivotal clinical study for the nPulse Cardiac Catheter System in atrial fibrillation. Following these announcements, the company's shares moved -2.36%, and are now trading at a price of $21.50. For the full picture, make sure to review PULSE BIOSCIENCES, INC.'s 8-K report.
