CEO of Osiris Therapeutics Resigns

Columbia, Md.-based Osiris Therapeutics Inc., a cellular and regenerative medicine company that makes products to treat conditions in wound care, orthopedics and sports medicine, has appointed Dwayne Montgomery, its current chief business officer, to serve as interim chief executive officer. Frank Czworka, currently vice president and general manager of Wound Care, has been promoted to chief operating officer. Montgomery will replace Lode Debrabandere, Ph.D., who today has announced his resignation from his role as president and CEO for personal reasons from Osiris.

“For the past 10 years at Osiris, it has been an honor to work with this talented and dedicated team of professionals as we made stem cell history,” said Debrabandere. “I am particularly proud of the commercial team that we have built, which was pivotal in transitioning the company into the fully integrated regenerative medicine business it is today. With multiple exciting biologic candidates in the pipeline, the company is well-positioned for continued growth and I am looking forward to a smooth transition.”

Montgomery brings over 20 years of commercial and business development experience. He is currently the chief business officer at Osiris. Prior to joining Osiris, Montgomery served as a commercial executive for venture-backed organizations in the trauma and spine markets. He held progressing roles of executive responsibility at Smith & Nephew Inc., serving as vice president and general manager for the Orthopaedic Global Trauma Business. He also held the role of vice president sales and marketing for the Clinical Therapies Global Business, a division that eventually became Bioventus Inc.

Czworka has a proven track record of commercializing complex biologics. During his time at MedImmune, he held multiple commercial roles of increasing responsibility, including the National Vice President of sales, leading the large MedImmune sales force. At Osiris, Czworka led the commercial build out of the Wound Care team, which includes over 150 professionals. As chief operating officer, Czworka will expand his commercial responsibilities to include orthopedics and sports medicine.

“Debrabandere has been a transformational leader for Osiris,” said Peter Friedli, chairman of the board. “For me personally, he has been a great partner to work with. Dr. Debrabandere will assist Mr. Montgomery and the board with the transition. Over the last two years, Mr. Montgomery has earned the respect of the board of directors and his peers at Osiris as a successful commercial and business development leader. He completed the partnership agreements for Bio4 and Cartiform and will focus his efforts on growing revenue and advancing the Biologics pipeline.”

The company’s board of directors has undertaken a search process to identify a permanent CEO and has engaged an executive search firm to assist in the search. Both internal and external candidates will be considered.