SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 12, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hana Biosciences (Nasdaq:HNAB), a biopharmaceutical company focused on strengthening the foundation of cancer care, today announced that Thomas J. Tarlow has been appointed Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Quality. Mr. Tarlow will be responsible for the development and implementation of regulatory strategies and quality systems as well as managing all U.S. and foreign regulatory filings for the Company's pipeline of dose-intensifying and compliance-enhancing oncology product candidates.
Mr. Tarlow brings over 21 years of experience serving in various senior leadership positions with expertise in regulatory strategy, direction and coordination of development, world-wide registration, and product labeling. He will report directly to Steven R. Deitcher, M.D., Hana's President and Chief Executive Officer.
"We are very pleased to have Tom join Hana as a key member of our management team," said Dr. Deitcher. "Tom's regulatory expertise in orphan drug and liposome formulation products, including the successful U.S. FDA priority approval of DOXIL for ovarian cancer, will be invaluable as we rapidly advance Marqibo, our Optisome encapsulated vincristine product candidate for leukemia, and our other cancer therapeutics and toxicity care candidates."
Prior to joining Hana, Mr. Tarlow served as Vice President, Regulatory Affairs and Document Archives for Tercica, Inc., where he directed, planned, and implemented global regulatory activities, and led the development and implementation of quality systems used to achieve compliance with regulatory requirements. Previously, he held various senior positions at Amgen, Inc., SUGEN, Inc. and ALZA Corporation. While at ALZA, Mr. Tarlow managed regulatory support for its liposomal formulation technology platforms and achieved U.S. FDA priority approval of DOXIL(r) for treatment of advanced ovarian cancer. Mr. Tarlow received his MS in Comparative Pathology from University of California, Davis, and AB in Biology from University of California, Santa Cruz.
About Hana Biosciences, Inc.
Hana Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:HNAB) is a South San Francisco, CA-based biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing, and commercializing innovative products to strengthen the foundation of cancer care. The company is committed to creating value by building a best-in-class team, accelerating the development of lead product candidates, expanding its pipeline by being an alliance partner of choice, and nurturing a unique company culture. Further information on Hana Biosciences can be found at www.hanabiosciences.com.
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This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "anticipates," "expects," "plans," "believes," "intends," and similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements include without limitation, statements regarding Hana's strategy, future operations, outlook, milestones, the success of its product development, future financial position, future financial results, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Hana's actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from these statements. Among other things, there can be no assurances that any of Hana's development efforts relating to its product candidates will be successful, that Hana will be able to obtain regulatory approval of any of its product candidates, and that the results of clinical trials will support Hana's claims or beliefs concerning the effectiveness of its product candidates. Additional risks that may affect such forward-looking statements include Hana's need to raise additional capital to fund its product development programs to completion, Hana's reliance on third-party researchers to develop its product candidates, and its lack of experience in developing and commercializing pharmaceutical products. Additional risks are described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Hana assumes no obligation to update these statements, except as required by law.