Zymeworks Inc. (Nasdaq: ZYME) on Oct. 19 appointed Suzanne Monahan to lead YUPELRI’s commercial strategy after its Theravance Biopharma acquisition, naming her senior vice president, commercial, and the subsidiary’s general manager.
Monahan’s appointment took effect immediately, Zymeworks said. She reports to Zymeworks Chair and CEO Kenneth Galbraith and will oversee commercial execution for YUPELRI (revefenacin), a maintenance treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.
Zymeworks completed the Theravance acquisition on Sept. 23, making it a wholly owned subsidiary. Under the deal terms disclosed in a securities filing, Theravance shareholders received $17 in cash and one contingent value right for each ordinary share.
For the first half of 2026, Zymeworks reported $133.1 million in YUPELRI sales and $38.4 million in collaboration revenue for Theravance Biopharma. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drug in 2018 for COPD maintenance treatment. Its label specifies a once-daily dose delivered by nebulizer.
Through Theravance Biopharma’s collaboration with Viatris, Zymeworks is entitled to 35% of YUPELRI’s net U.S. profits and royalties on net sales outside the United States. A $350 million non-recourse note from OMERS helped finance the acquisition. While the note remains outstanding, 75% of YUPELRI profit-share cash flows go toward principal and interest, leaving Zymeworks with 25%. Zymeworks said it will retain all of those cash flows after the note is repaid.
Zymeworks has described the acquisition as a way to add recurring commercial income alongside its research and development business. Monahan most recently held a senior vice president role at Pacira BioSciences. Her earlier employers include Shionogi, Circassia Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi-Aventis and Salix Pharmaceuticals. Zymeworks said she has more than 20 years of commercial leadership experience.
Zymeworks plans to report third-quarter results after the market closes Nov. 9. It does not plan to host a results call or webcast.
