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Opterion Health AG Appoints Industry Leaders Rice Powell and Mark Hahn to Board of Directors

Muttenz, Switzerland, 23 June 2025

Opterion Health AG, a Swiss-based life sciences company developing a next-generation, non-glucose based peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution, today announced the appointment of two highly accomplished executives to its Board of Directors: Rice Powell, former Chairman and CEO of Fresenius Medical Care, and Mark Hahn, Chief Financial Officer of Verona Pharma and a veteran biotech finance leader.

These appointments represent a significant step forward in the strategic development of Opterion Health as it prepares for clinical trials and future commercialization. Rice Powell and Mark Hahn have demonstrated decades of leadership in renal care, biotechnology, and corporate strategy, reinforcing the company’s commitment to innovation and improving patient outcomes.
Rice Powell brings more than 30 years of experience in the global dialysis and healthcare industry. As Chairman and CEO of Fresenius Medical Care, he led the world’s largest provider of dialysis products and services through a decade of strategic transformation and international growth. His leadership was instrumental in expanding access to renal therapies and improving standards of care across continents.

“The mission of Opterion Health to transform peritoneal dialysis resonates deeply with me,” said Rice Powell. “Having spent my career focused on renal care, I see tremendous potential in this approach to improving quality of life for patients. I’m honored to support the company’s vision and contribute to its strategic direction.”
Mark Hahn brings over two decades of financial leadership in the life sciences sector. Currently serving as CFO of Verona Pharma, he has played a central role in fundraising, IPO execution, and scaling operations in both private and public biotech companies. His previous roles include CFO positions at Dova Pharmaceuticals, Cempra, and Athenix, where he consistently delivered financial strategy aligned with corporate growth.

Mark Hahn also works closely with David Ebsworth, Chairman of Opterion Health, at Verona Pharma. Their ongoing collaboration and shared experience navigating complex financial and regulatory environments will be instrumental as Opterion Health advances its clinical and commercial roadmap.
“Opterion Health is at a truly exciting inflection point,” said Mark Hahn. “The science is compelling, the leadership is visionary, and the opportunity to make a real difference in patients’ lives is profound. I’m excited to help guide the company’s financial and strategic growth.”

David Ebsworth commented: «Welcoming Rice and Mark to our Board is a major milestone for Opterion Health. Rice’s unparalleled leadership in renal care and Mark’s deep financial expertise bring extraordinary strength to our governance. Their insights and experience will be invaluable as we move toward clinical trials and beyond. I am more confident than ever in the company’s future.»

For more information, please contact:
info@opterion.com

About Opterion Health AG

Opterion Health is developing a novel peritoneal dialysis (PD) solution aimed at revolutionizing the dialysis market. Backed by leading life science investors, the company is headquartered in the Basel area, the pharmaceutical heart of Switzerland, and supported by a strong team of scientists, entrepreneurs, and nephrologists across Europe.

Opterion Health AG, Hofackerstrasse 40, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland

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Jan Anders Karlsson

Board Member
Dr Jan-Anders Karlsson, PhD, has 40 years of experience as a CEO and board member in pharma and biotech companies in Europe, Asia and the US. Jan-Anders was a founder and CEO of Reset Pharmaceuticals Inc, and prior to this served as CEO of Verona Pharma, a NASDAQ-listed biopharmaceutical company developing respiratory drugs. As CEO of S*BIO Pte Ltd, he focused on the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of cancer – its product Vonjo (pacritinib) is approved in the US. Prior to S*BIO, he was Head of Pharma Global Research at Bayer Healthcare AG and held positions in Rhone-Poulenc Rorer and Astra AB. Jan-Anders received a doctorate in Medical Science (PhD) in Clinical Experimental Pharmacology from the University of Lund, Sweden.

Andreas Schmidt

Board Member

Andreas Schmid has more than 25 years of experience in Finance in the Life Sciences. He worked as a Pharma Analyst at Merrill Lynch and also has experience in fund raising as well as business development.

During the span of his career Andreas was one of the highest-ranked dialysis and generic pharma analysts, with special expertise in European and CEE/emerging markets. His coverage universe included companies such as Fresenius/FMC (Germany), Gambro (Sweden), Stada (Germany) and Aspen (South Africa). Furthermore, he played a major part in the IPOs of Zentiva (Czech Republic) and Hikma (Jordan). Andreas has also been active as a speaker at various industry conferences, for example in New York, Frankfurt, but also in Warsaw and other Eastern European countries.

In addition, Andreas works as finance lecturer at the Hochschule Pforzheim and is a board member of the German shareholder association SdK.

Ricardo Cordero

Vice Chairman
Dr Ricardo Cordero, PhD, serves as Vice Chairman of Opterion Health since 2016. Ricardo has over 30 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry where he held various senior positions, for example as CEO of BZ Bank, Managing Partner at Reichmuth & Co Investmentfonds AG, Co-founder and Co-CEO at BWO Bank, etc. Further, he is a passionate and experienced private Swiss investor and holds various investments in the Life Science, Technology and high-end Consumer Goods industry.

David Ebsworth

Chairman
Dr David Ebsworth, PhD, has been Chairman of Opterion Health since December 2016. David has over 40 years of experience in the Pharma, Healthcare and Biotech industry. David is a past CEO of Galenica, Vifor Pharma as well as Oxford GlycoSciences and past global head of the Pharmaceutical Division of Bayer. He has chaired several private and public companies and has served on numerous boards as either chairman of the audit, remuneration or nominations and governance committees. David is currently Chairman of Verona Pharma and Actimed Therapeutics.