TEL-AVIV, Israel, Dec. 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (Nasdaq:RDHL) (TASE:RDHL) (“RedHill” or the “Company”), an Israeli biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the development and commercialization of late clinical-stage, proprietary, orally-administered, small molecule drugs for inflammatory and gastrointestinal diseases, including cancer, today announced the appointment of Mr. Rick D. Scruggs to its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2016.
With over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Mr. Scruggs brings extensive knowledge in commercial operations and business development. He most recently served as Executive Vice President of Business Development at Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (“Salix”), up to its acquisition by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International earlier this year. Mr. Scruggs joined Salix in 2000, after working at Oclassen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Watson Pharmaceuticals, and helped build Salix’s commercial organization, serving in various sales and commercial trade related positions. He was appointed as Executive Vice President in 2011 and was responsible for all business development activities as well as the worldwide distribution of Salix innovative products and intellectual property. Mr. Scruggs also served as the Head of the Board of Directors of Oceana Therapeutics, Salix’s European subsidiary.
Dror Ben-Asher, RedHill’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors: “We are delighted to welcome Rick to RedHill’s Board of Directors. The appointment is particularly timely, as Rick brings a strong track record and tremendous experience in M&A and successfully commercializing products in the fields of gastrointestinal and inflammatory diseases in the U.S. I am confident that RedHill’s Board of Directors will benefit from his proven executive expertise, most recently at Salix, as well as his strategic perspective. Rick’s insight will be invaluable to RedHill as we continue to pursue our strategy of establishing commercial capabilities in the U.S., with a focus on gastrointestinal and inflammatory diseases, and to maximize the potential of our late clinical-stage pipeline in these fields.”
Rick D. Scruggs added: “I am delighted to be offered the opportunity to become part of the RedHill Board of Directors and I look forward to making contributions to the continued success of the Company.”
About RedHill Biopharma Ltd.:
RedHill Biopharma Ltd. (Nasdaq:RDHL) (TASE:RDHL) is an emerging Israeli biopharmaceutical company primarily focused on the development and commercialization of late clinical-stage, proprietary, orally-administered, small molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory and gastrointestinal diseases, including cancer. RedHill’s current pipeline of proprietary products includes: (i) RHB-105 - an oral combination therapy for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection with successful top-line results from a first Phase III study; (ii) RHB-104 - an oral combination therapy for the treatment of Crohn's disease with an ongoing first Phase III study; (iii) BEKINDA™ (RHB-102) - a once-daily oral pill formulation of ondansetron with an ongoing Phase III study in the U.S. for acute gastroenteritis and gastritis; (iv) RHB-106 - an encapsulated bowel preparation licensed to Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.; (v) YELIVA™ (ABC294640) - an orally-administered first-in-class SK2 selective inhibitor targeting multiple oncology, inflammatory and gastrointestinal indications with a Phase I/II study initiated for refractory/relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); (vi) MESUPRON® - a Phase II-stage first-in-class uPA inhibitor, administered by oral capsule, targeting gastrointestinal and other solid tumors; (vii) RP101 - currently subject to an option-to-acquire by RedHill, RP101 is a Phase II-stage first-in-class Hsp27 inhibitor, administered by oral tablet, targeting pancreatic and other gastrointestinal cancers; (viii) RIZAPORT™ (RHB-103) - an oral thin film formulation of rizatriptan for acute migraines, with a U.S. NDA currently under discussion with the FDA and marketing authorization received in Germany in October 2015; and (ix) RHB-101 - a once-daily oral pill formulation of the cardio drug carvedilol.
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements may be preceded by the words “intends,” “may,” “will,” “plans,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “aims,” “believes,” “hopes,” “potential” or similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) the initiation, timing, progress and results of the Company’s research, manufacturing, preclinical studies, clinical trials, and other therapeutic candidate development efforts; (ii) the Company’s ability to advance its therapeutic candidates into clinical trials or to successfully complete its preclinical studies or clinical trials; (iii) the extent and number of additional studies that the Company may be required to conduct and the Company’s receipt of regulatory approvals for its therapeutic candidates, and the timing of other regulatory filings, approvals and feedback; (iv) the manufacturing, clinical development, commercialization, and market acceptance of the Company’s therapeutic candidates; (v) the Company’s ability to establish and maintain corporate collaborations; (vi) the interpretation of the properties and characteristics of the Company’s therapeutic candidates and of the results obtained with its therapeutic candidates in research, preclinical studies or clinical trials; (vii) the implementation of the Company’s business model, strategic plans for its business and therapeutic candidates; (viii) the scope of protection the Company is able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering its therapeutic candidates and its ability to operate its business without infringing the intellectual property rights of others; (ix) parties from whom the Company licenses its intellectual property defaulting in their obligations to the Company; (x) estimates of the Company’s expenses, future revenues capital requirements and the Company’s needs for additional financing; (xi) competitive companies and technologies within the Company’s industry; and (xii) the impact of the political and security situation in Israel on the Company's business. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on February 26, 2015. All forward-looking statements included in this Press Release are made only as of the date of this Press Release. We assume no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement unless required by law.