SAN DIEGO, March 10, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apricus Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:APRI), today announced the appointment of Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D., to the Company's Board of Directors. Dr. Wierenga brings decades of experience heading research and development programs that led to the marketing approval of over 15 medicines and has participated in the filing of over 70 Investigational New Drug (IND) disclosures. His appointment is effective immediately.
"We are extremely pleased to add an outstanding, highly qualified scientific and business leader to our Board," said Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board. "We believe Wendell's expertise and demonstrated success will contribute greatly to our continued progress anticipated in 2014, including the advancement of our development pipeline based on formulations of alprostadil and our proprietary DDAIP transdermal delivery platform."
Dr. Xanthopoulos added, "We are also announcing today that Board member Leonard Oppenheim will not seek re-election at our upcoming annual meeting in May. I want to personally thank Len for his many contributions over the years, including his critical guidance during our recent refocusing of the Company on targeted applications in men's and women's health."
Dr. Wierenga stated, "I am very excited to join the Apricus Board during a period that is transformative, both in terms of the pending commercial launch of the Company's lead product, Vitaros®, through its partners in Europe, and in regard to the advancement of pipeline products that may have a profound impact on patient care."
Dr. Wierenga has four decades of experience in research, drug discovery and drug development, including clinical research, regulatory affairs, manufacturing, safety, and medical affairs. Most recently, Dr. Wierenga served as Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Santarus, Inc., until the company's $2.6 B acquisition by Salix Pharmaceuticals. Prior to this, he held the position of Executive Vice President of R&D at Neurocrine Biosciences and then at Ambit Biosciences. Previously, he was CEO of Syrrx, Inc., and prior to this held senior positions at Parke-Davis/Warner Lambert (now Pfizer), including Senior Vice President of Research, R&D and ultimately Pharmaceutical Technologies. Earlier, Wierenga served at Upjohn Pharmaceuticals for 16 years, attaining the position of Executive Director of Discovery Research.
During his career, Dr. Wierenga led or participated in more than 70 Investigational New Drug disclosures, more than 15 New Drug Applications, and 16 marketed products, including Lipitor®, Neurontin®, Lyrica®, and Uceris®. He is on the Scientific Advisory Boards of Concert Pharmaceuticals, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, and aTyr Pharma, Inc., and currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Cytokinetics, Inc., and XenoPort, Inc., as well as having served on several other Boards, including Onyx Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Wierenga earned his Ph.D. degree in chemistry from Stanford University and his B.A. degree in chemistry from Hope College.
About Apricus Biosciences, Inc.
Apricus Biosciences, Inc. (APRI), is a pharmaceutical company that develops and markets through its licensing partners innovative treatments that have the potential to help large patient populations across numerous, large-market therapeutic classes including male and female sexual health. The Company has one approved product, Vitaros®, for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, which is now approved in Europe and Canada and will be commercialized by Apricus' marketing partners, which include Abbott Laboratories Limited, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International GmbH, Hexal AG (Sandoz), Recordati S.p.A., Bracco SpA and Laboratoires Majorelle. Femprox®, the Company's product candidate for the treatment of female sexual interest/arousal disorder, has successfully completed a nearly 400-subject proof-of-concept study. The Company is currently seeking a strategic partner for Femprox.
For further information on Apricus, visit http://www.apricusbio.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended: with the exception of the historical information contained in this release, the matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that may individually or mutually impact the matters herein described for a variety of reasons that are outside the control of the Company, including, but not limited to, its ability to further develop its product Vitaros® for ED, such as the room temperature version of Vitaros® and product candidate Femprox® for female sexual interest/arousal disorder among others; to have its product and product candidates receive additional patent protection and be approved by relevant regulatory authorities in Europe, the United States, Canada and in other countries, such as additional national phase approvals for Vitaros® in the remaining CMS territories, Spain and Luxembourg; to successfully commercialize such product and product candidates and other NexACT® product candidates and drug delivery technology; and to achieve its other development, commercialization and financial goals, such as successfully manufacturing and launching Vitaros® in partnered territories. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. Readers are urged to read the risk factors set forth in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as amended, subsequent quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q, as amended, and other filings made with the SEC. Copies of these reports are available from the SEC's website or without charge from the Company.