LANGHORNE, PA — Savara Inc. (Nasdaq: SVRA) is restructuring its executive leadership team after Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Dave Lowrance stepped down for health-related reasons, placing Chief Operating Officer Robert Lutz in charge of the company’s finance function as it advances its lead drug candidate toward potential commercialization.
The clinical-stage biotechnology company said Lowrance will leave his executive role after nearly a decade with the company but will remain available in an advisory capacity.
As part of the transition, Savara will split the responsibilities previously held by Lowrance. Lutz will assume the additional role of chief financial officer, while administrative duties will be distributed among other senior executives.
The leadership change comes as Savara continues development of MOLBREEVI, its late-stage treatment candidate for rare respiratory diseases.
Lowrance played a key role in the company’s financial operations during a period that included capital raises, a Nasdaq listing and advancement of its development pipeline, Chief Executive Officer Matt Pauls said.
“It has been a privilege to serve Savara for nearly a decade,” Lowrance said. “I am proud of what this team has built—from strengthening our balance sheet and supporting the advancement of MOLBREEVI, to helping position the Company for what I believe will be a transformative period.”
Lutz has served as chief operating officer since February 2023 and brings more than 20 years of pharmaceutical industry experience spanning finance, operations, investor relations and business development.
Before joining Savara, he served as chief financial and business officer at iBio and previously held the same role at Strongbridge Biopharma. Earlier in his career, he held leadership positions at Shire and Cinergy and began his career as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs.
“His background as a two-time Chief Financial and Business Officer, combined with his deep understanding of our operations and strategy, makes him ideally positioned to take on this expanded role,” Pauls said.
Savara develops therapies targeting rare respiratory diseases and is listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker SVRA.
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