Jeff Vernimb to head new global consumer health unit

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Moberg Pharma AB is sharpening its focus on the North American marketplace as part of a reorganization of its sales and marketing operations.

Moberg said it’s forming a global consumer health sales and marketing unit that includes both direct and distributor sales. Jeff Vernimb, general manager for North America, has been named vice president of global consumer health, overseeing global sales and marketing of the company’s over-the-counter brands.

Jeff Vernimb

Under Vernimb‘s management, Moberg’s North American sales have more than doubled over the past three years to $46 million, the company noted. Direct sales in North America currently represent about 90% of Moberg’s overall revenue.

Vernimb joined Moberg in December 2014 and has senior-level experience in sales, marketing and Rx-to-OTC switch roles in both large and smaller consumer health companies, including Pfizer, Novartis, Dynova Labs and Insight Pharmaceuticals.

Moberg said managing consumer health operations on a global basis will entail more direct sharing of consumer insights and market learning, as well as maximizing synergies as the company builds out its OTC portfolio and approaches commercialization of MOB-015, an in-development treatment for onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the toenails or fingernails.

With this shift, Moberg announced that vice president of sales and marketing Martin Ingman will be leaving the company and the management team. During his nine years with the company, Ingman has led the work of establishing distributor sales in about 40 countries, the company said.

Plans call for the new consumer health unit to be implemented this winter, and Ingman is slated to remain during the transition, Moberg reported.

“The new organization better reflects the company’s increased focus on the North American market and progress toward the commercialization of MOB-015, while also enabling synergies in the global sales operations,” Moberg Pharma chief executive officer Peter Wolpert stated. “I would like to thank Martin Ingman for the important work he has done for the company and wish him all the best in the future.”

Moberg’s roster of OTC brands includes Kerasal, Kerasal Nail, Balmex, New Skin, Dermoplast and Domeboro. Besides MOB-015, the company also is developing BUPI, a treatment for oral mucositis, a painful inflammation and ulceration of the mouth, typically from chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment for cancer.