Sobi's long-serving CEO Guido Oelkers to step down
Sobi president and CEO Guido Oelkers will take a position outside the company at the end of January 2027.
After nearly a decade in the role, Guido Oelkers is stepping down as chief executive of Swedish biopharma group Sobi to take up a position outside the company.
Sobi said that Oelkers will remain in the role until the end of January, adding that it has now started the process of finding a new CEO to secure a "structured transition."
Oelkers joined Sobi in 2017 and has overseen a massive expansion of the company, driven by a series of acquisitions, with annual revenues growing more than four-fold in the intervening period from SEK 6.5 billion to more than SEK 28 billion ($2.9 billion).
Under his leadership, Sobi expanded in its core rare disease category with the $1.5 billion purchase of two AstraZeneca drugs in 2018, including respiratory syncytial virus therapy Synagis (palivizumab), along with an agreement to take full control of Still's disease therapy Gamifant (emapalumab) from Novimmune in 2019.
Later that year, acquired Dova Pharmaceuticals for up to $915 million, claiming rights to thrombocytopaenia medicine Doptelet (avatrombopag), which has been tipped as having blockbuster potential and made almost SEK 5.3 billion last year.
Those deals were followed by the $1.7 billion takeover of CTI BioPharma in 2023, expanding Sobi's rare haematology franchise with Vonjo (pacritinib) for myelofibrosis, and last year's $1.5 billion acquisition of Arthrosi Therapeutics, which added late-stage gout treatment pozdeutinurad.
"On behalf of the board, I would like to sincerely thank Guido for nearly 10 years of dedication and leadership at Sobi," said David Meek, chairman of Sobi's board.
"Under his stewardship, the company has strengthened its rare disease portfolio, delivered strong financial performance, and he leaves Sobi well positioned for its next growth chapter," he added.
Oelkers leaves the company with an ambitious target of growing its annual revenues still further, eyeing SEK 55 billion by 2030.
"Leading Sobi has been a privilege, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together as a team, from advancing our pipeline, expanding our global footprint, and growing Sobi to be a leader in rare diseases," said Oelkers.
