Achieve Life Sciences Strengthens Board and Commercial Leadership with Three Senior Appointments from Team Previously at Verona Pharma
Rhea-AI Summary
Achieve Life Sciences (Nasdaq: ACHV) announced three senior leadership appointments, reinforcing its move toward commercializing cytisinicline for nicotine dependence. Christopher Martin joins the Board, while Mark Zappia becomes Senior Vice President, Commercial, and Jim Willis becomes Vice President of Sales and Sales Enablement.
The trio previously led the U.S. launch of Ohtuvayre (ensifentrine) at Verona Pharma, later acquired by Merck for $10.8 billion. The appointments follow CEO Andrew Goldberg’s April 2026 hiring and a recent financing of up to $354 million ($180 million upfront plus up to $174 million in milestone warrants). Tom King will leave the Board in June 2026, with Lucian Iancovici becoming Chairman.
Positive
- Recent financing of up to $354 million, including $180 million upfront and up to $174 million in milestone warrants tied to FDA approval of cytisinicline
- Commercial leadership team previously led the U.S. launch of Ohtuvayre at Verona Pharma
- Verona Pharma’s acquisition by Merck for $10.8 billion underscores the team’s prior commercial track record
- CEO Andrew Goldberg’s April 2026 appointment and new hires align with Achieve’s transition toward commercialization
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – ACHV
In the May 12 session, ACHV gained 7.16%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +15.0% during that session. Argus tracked a trough of -4.5% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 18 alerts that day, indicating notable trading interest and price volatility.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 05 | Earnings call notice | Neutral | +3.9% | Set date for Q1 2026 results call and webcast logistics. |
| Apr 16 | CEO & funding | Positive | +35.5% | New CEO appointment paired with up to $354M to advance cytisinicline. |
| Apr 16 | Private placement | Positive | +35.5% | Announced up to $354M private placement to fund trials and commercialization. |
| Apr 15 | Operational progress | Positive | -1.7% | Completed tech transfer and outlined NDA timing and launch expectations. |
| Mar 26 | Mechanistic data | Positive | +2.5% | Publication linking receptor selectivity to favorable tolerability for cytisinicline. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent ACHV news has often drawn positive price reactions, especially around financing and leadership changes, with one divergence on an operational progress update.
Over the last few months, ACHV has reported several milestones, including operational progress on cytisinicline manufacturing on Apr 15, 2026 and a mechanistic publication on tolerability on Mar 26, 2026. Major catalysts came on Apr 16, 2026 with up to $354M in private placement financing and the appointment of Andrew D. Goldberg, MD as CEO, which saw a 35.49% move. The current commercial and board hires fit this ongoing shift toward commercialization highlighted in prior updates.
Key Terms
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medical
copd medical
cytisinicline medical
nicotine dependence medical
fda regulatory
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Christopher Martin joins the Board of Directors, with Mark Zappia and Jim Willis joining as Senior Vice President of Commercial and Vice President of Sales, reuniting the team behind the launch of Ohtuvayre®, one of the most successful specialty pharmaceutical launches in recent industry history
SEATTLE and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. (Achieve and the Company) (Nasdaq: ACHV), a late-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the global development and commercialization of cytisinicline as a treatment for nicotine dependence, today announced three senior leadership appointments. Christopher Martin has joined the Company’s Board of Directors. Mark Zappia has joined as Senior Vice President, Commercial, where he will spearhead the Company’s commercial function. Jim Willis has joined as Vice President of Sales and Sales Enablement, where he will lead the field force.
Mr. Martin most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer at Verona Pharma, where he oversaw the commercial strategy for Ohtuvayre® (ensifentrine), a differentiated therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Mr. Zappia led commercial operations during the launch, and Mr. Willis led the national field force during the same period. Verona Pharma was acquired by Merck & Co. for
Today’s announcements follow Dr. Andrew D. Goldberg’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer in April 2026 and the recent financing of up to
“Bringing Chris, Mark, and Jim to Achieve is one of the most consequential decisions of my first month as CEO and reflects our evolution into a commercial-stage organization,” said Andrew D. Goldberg, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Achieve Life Sciences. “Having anchored Verona Pharma’s U.S. market transition, I saw firsthand the discipline and excellence this team brings to a commercial launch. We are addressing one of the largest preventable public health problems we know, and the experience this team brings positions Achieve to deliver cytisinicline to the patients who need it and the prescribers who care for them.”
“I joined Achieve’s Board because I see a rare combination — a novel and differentiated asset in a large market with significant unmet needs. I am excited to work together again with Mark & Jim, a team I trust, who launched Ohtuvayre together,” said Christopher Martin. “Cytisinicline could become the first new smoking cessation therapy in more than two decades and the first ever for vaping cessation. That’s an important moment I wanted to be involved in.”
In connection with today’s announcement, Tom King will step down from the Board of Directors in June 2026. Dr. Lucian Iancovici will assume the role of Chairman of the Board.
“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Tom for his service to Achieve,” said Dr. Lucian Iancovici, director of Achieve. “The leadership team in place today — Andrew, the directors who have recently joined, and the new commercial leadership announced this morning — gives the Board confidence that Achieve is built for what comes next. We are pleased to welcome Chris, Mark, and Jim.”
About Christopher Martin
Christopher Martin is an accomplished pharmaceutical commercial leader with over 25 years of expertise spanning sales, marketing, market access, operations, and business development. Most recently, he served as Chief Commercial Officer at Verona Pharma, a biopharmaceutical company acquired by Merck & Co. in October 2025 that specialized in developing innovative, inhaled therapies for chronic respiratory diseases. He previously served as Executive Director of Marketing at SK Life Science, where he was instrumental in developing the commercial and marketing strategy for launching XCOPRI® (cenobamate tablets), a novel CNS therapeutic. Earlier, he was Head of Marketing at Cempra Pharmaceuticals, where he led launch strategy and commercial planning for the company’s first product. Prior to that, Mr. Martin was with Salix Pharmaceuticals in roles of increasing responsibility, including leading the Xifaxan® marketing team. He currently serves on the boards of Oruka Therapeutics (Nasdaq: ORKA) and Edgewise Therapeutics (Nasdaq: EWTX). Mr. Martin received a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management from Clemson University.
About Mark Zappia
Mark Zappia brings more than 20 years of biopharma commercial operations and finance experience, with a track record of building high-performing commercial functions and driving market-defining product launches. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Commercial Operations at Verona Pharma, where he was one of the founding commercial leaders, joining in 2022 and building the end-to-end commercial infrastructure that supported Ohtuvayre’s market entry. He subsequently supported the company’s transition through its acquisition by Merck & Co. Prior to that, Mark held progressive leadership roles at Mayne Pharma, Circassia, Bioventus, and Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, with expertise spanning respiratory, dermatology, women’s health, medical device, and generic manufacturing. He received a Master of Science in Finance from Brandeis University and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Hartwick College.
About Jim Willis
With nearly 25 years of industry experience, Jim Willis brings a track record of launch success: building, enabling, and leading sales teams across companies of varying size, including multiple startups. Most recently, as National Sales Director at Verona Pharma, he helped build, expand, and lead the field organization through Ohtuvayre’s launch and the company’s acquisition by Merck & Co. Earlier in his career, he held sales leadership and launch roles at Exact Sciences, Melinta Therapeutics, Salix Pharmaceuticals, Merck, and Schering-Plough. While at Exact Sciences, he also held national roles leading commercial effectiveness, training, and commercial strategy and execution. He received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Elon University, a Master of Business Administration from Mercer University, and a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy from the University of Florida.
About Achieve Life Sciences, Inc.
Achieve Life Sciences, Inc. is a late-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the global development and commercialization of cytisinicline as a treatment of nicotine dependence. In September 2025, the company announced that its New Drug Application, submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2025, had been accepted for review. The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of June 20, 2026. The NDA is for cytisinicline to be used as a treatment of nicotine dependence for smoking cessation in adults, based on two successfully completed Phase 3 studies and its open-label safety study. Additionally, the company has completed a Phase 2 study with cytisinicline in vaping cessation and conducted a successful end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA for a future vaping indication.
About Cytisinicline
There are approximately 25 million adults in the United States who smoke combustible cigarettes.¹ Tobacco use is currently the leading cause of preventable death that is responsible for more than eight million deaths worldwide and nearly half a million deaths in the United States annually.²,³
In addition, there are nearly 18 million adults in the United States who use e-cigarettes, also known as vaping.¹ In 2024, approximately 1.6 million middle and high school students in the United States reported using e-cigarettes.⁴ There are no FDA-approved treatments indicated specifically as an aid to nicotine e-cigarette cessation. FDA has awarded the Commissioner’s National Priority Voucher for e-cigarette or vaping cessation and granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to address this critical need.
Cytisinicline is a plant-based alkaloid with a high binding affinity to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. It is believed to aid in treating nicotine addiction for smoking and e-cigarette cessation by interacting with nicotine receptors in the brain, reducing the severity of nicotine craving symptoms, and reducing the reward and satisfaction associated with nicotine products. Cytisinicline is an investigational product candidate being developed as a treatment of nicotine dependence for smoking cessation and has not been approved by the FDA for any indication in the United States.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements Achieve makes regarding the timing, nature and outcome of cytisinicline clinical development and regulatory review and approval, data results, the timing, nature and success of Achieve’s commercialization activities, the potential market size for cytisinicline, the potential benefits, efficacy, safety and tolerability of cytisinicline, the development and effectiveness of new treatments, the performance of Achieve’s third-party manufacturing partners, the successful launch and commercialization of cytisinicline, and statements concerning Achieve Life Sciences’ future plans and prospects. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Achieve may not actually achieve its plans or product development goals in a timely manner, if at all, or otherwise carry out its intentions or meet its expectations or projections disclosed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, including Achieve’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Achieve undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained herein or to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date hereof, other than as may be required by applicable law.
Achieve Contact
Nicole Jones
VP, Strategic Communications and Stakeholder Relations
ir@achievelifesciences.com
425-686-1510
References
¹Agaku I. Tobacco Product Use among U.S. Adults, 2023–2024, NEJM, doi: 10.1056/EVIDpha2500339.
²World Health Organization. WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2017.
³U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking — 50 Years of Progress. A Report of the Surgeon General, 2014.
⁴Jamal A, Park-Lee E, Birdsey J, et al. Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students — National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:917–924.
