Atea Pharmaceuticals Appoints Dr. Howard Berman To Board In Agreement With Radoff-JEC Group

Atea Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biopharma company focused on developing oral antiviral treatments, has appointed Dr. Howard H. Berman to its Board of Directors. Dr. Berman will initially serve as a non-voting observer until Atea’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, at which point he will become a full voting member of the Board. His addition is part of a broader agreement with the Radoff-JEC Group, a group of shareholders led by Bradley L. Radoff and Michael Torok.

Jean-Pierre Sommadossi, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Atea, mentioned, “We are pleased to welcome Howard Berman to the Atea Board. We look forward to benefiting from Dr. Berman’s industry experience and insights as we advance our global Phase 3 program evaluating the regimen of bemnifosbuvir and ruzasvir for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and our efforts to deliver value to Atea’s shareholders.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the Radoff-JEC Group has agreed to withdraw its slate of director nominees and will vote in support of Atea’s Board selections at the upcoming 2025 Annual Meeting. The agreement also includes typical provisions related to voting, standstill arrangements, and other governance commitments, which Atea plans to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

“We invested in Atea because it has a real opportunity to create significant value for its shareholders,” said Bradley L. Radoff and Michael Torok. “We appreciate the productive engagement we have had with the Company, and we look forward to the contributions Dr. Berman will make to the Board.”

Dr. Berman stated, “Atea’s de-risked Phase 3 program with its potential best-in-class profile for the treatment of HCV has the potential to disrupt a multi-billion global market. I look forward to joining the Board and working with my fellow directors on behalf of all Atea’s shareholders.”

Additionally, Atea announced that current board member Franklin Berger has decided not to seek reelection when his term concludes at the Company’s 2027 Annual Meeting. These changes reflect the company’s ongoing efforts to refresh its leadership and strengthen shareholder relations as it continues advancing its antiviral pipeline.