WINNERSH, United Kingdom, Dec. 20, 2006 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Vernalis plc (LSE:VER) (Nasdaq:VNLS) today announces the appointment of Ian Clark as a Non-Executive Director with effect from January 1st 2007. He currently serves as Executive Vice President, Commercial at Genentech, and he is responsible for leading their commercial organisation, including the Sales, Marketing, Managed Care, Market Development, and Commercial Operations functions.
Before joining Genentech in 2004, he served as president of Novartis Canada, overseeing all of the company's country operations. Before assuming his post in Canada, he served as Chief Operating Officer for Novartis in the UK. Prior to joining Novartis in 1999, Ian worked in Vice Presidential roles in sales and marketing for Sanofi (Aventis) and Ivax in the UK and Eastern Europe. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Southampton University.
Peter Fellner, Chairman of Vernalis commented:
"We are delighted that Ian has agreed to join our Board. His exceptional sales and marketing knowledge will help Vernalis as it continues to develop its commercial expertise. Establishing our U.S. business is an important part of Vernalis' growth strategy. With two products on the market and a strong product portfolio in development, his commercial experience will be invaluable to Vernalis."
Ian Clark commenting on his appointment said:
"Vernalis is at an exciting stage of its development. The Company's commercial organisation is already marketing its own products and I look forward to lending my experience and perspective to the management team as they grow current sales and prepare for future product launches."
Notes to Editors
About Vernalis
Vernalis is a speciality bio-pharmaceutical company focused on products marketed to specialist neurologists. The company has two marketed products, Frova(r) and Apokyn(r), and a development pipeline focused on neurology and central nervous system disorders. The company has eight products in clinical development and collaborations with leading, global pharmaceutical companies including Novartis, Biogen Idec and Serono. Vernalis has established a U.S. commercial operation to promote Apokyn(r) and co-promote Frova(r) alongside its North American licensing partner, Endo Pharmaceuticals, progressing the company towards its goal of becoming a sustainable, self-funding, R&D-driven, speciality bio-pharmaceutical company. For further information about Vernalis, please visit: www.vernalis.com
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Product Indication Phase Phase Phase Regist- Market Marketing
I II III ration Rights
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Apokyn(r) Parkinson's x North
Disease America
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Frova(r) Migraine x US mile-
stones &
royalties
- Endo
(EU -
royalties)
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Frova(r) Menstrual US mile-
Migraine stones &
Prevention x royalties
- Endo
(EU -
royalties)
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V1512 Parkinson's World
Disease x Wide
(excl.
Italy)
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V10153 Ischaemic World
stroke x Wide
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V1003 Acute Pain x US
Profit
share
Option
Reckitt
Benckiser
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V3381 Neuropathic World
Pain x Wide
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V2006 Parkinson's US Co-
Disease x promotion
Biogen
Idec
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MMPI Multiple None -
Sclerosis x royalty
(Serono)
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V24343 Obesity x World
Wide
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Vernalis Forward-Looking Statement
This news release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events including the clinical development and regulatory clearance of the Company's products, the Company's ability to find partners for the development and commercialisation of its products, as well as the Company's future capital raising activities. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events could differ materially from those projected herein and depend on a number of factors including the success of the Company's research strategies, the applicability of the discoveries made therein, the successful and timely completion of clinical studies, the uncertainties related to the regulatory process, the ability of the Company to identify and agree beneficial terms with suitable partners for the commercialisation and/or development of its products, as well as the achievement of expected synergies from such transactions, the acceptance of Frova(r) and Apokyn(r) and other products by consumers and medical professionals, the successful integration of completed mergers and acquisitions and achievement of expected synergies from such transactions, and the ability of the Company to identify and consummate suitable strategic and business combination transactions.