BOTHELL, Wash., June 06, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALDR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing monoclonal antibody therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Roger K. Cady, M.D. as vice president of neurology.

“Roger is well known as a migraine key opinion leader and for his pivotal contributions in the field of headache and migraine management, and brings to Alder valuable knowledge and insights from his years of treating patients with migraine,” said Randall C. Schatzman, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer. “Roger’s depth of knowledge will be integral to our continued development of ALD403 for the prevention of chronic and frequent episodic migraine. We look forward to benefitting from his experience as we prosecute our ongoing pivotal clinical trial evaluating ALD403 in patients with frequent episodic migraine, PROMISE 1, and look to the initiation of our second pivotal trial, PROMISE 2, evaluating ALD403 in patients with chronic migraine, later this year.”

Since 1995, Dr. Cady has served as the medical director of the Headache Care Center and was the founder of Clinvest and Primary Care Network located in Springfield, Mo. From 1986 to 1995, he was the medical director for the Shealy Institute in Springfield, Mo. Earlier in his career he had a family practice in Hillsboro, Wis. Dr. Cady holds a bachelor’s degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and a medical degree from the Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minn. He completed his residency in family practice at St. Francis Mayo in LaCrosse, Wis.

Dr. Cady is a fellow of the American Headache Society and a member of the board of directors for the National Headache Foundation. He is the co-recipient of the prestigious Harold Wolff Award in 2000 for his research on the spectrum of primary headache in migraine sufferers. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Headache Foundation in 2012 and has authored over 200 scientific papers on migraine diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment. Dr. Cady has participated in over 300 clinical trials, and designed and conducted investigator initiated studies, which evaluated numerous migraine therapies and have been instrumental in defining the early intervention paradigm for migraine treatment, clarifying the relationship between migraine and sinus headache, and improving communication between patients and healthcare providers. 

About Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc., is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and seeks to commercialize therapeutic antibodies with the potential to meaningfully transform current treatment paradigms. ALD403, Alder's lead pivotal-stage product candidate being evaluated for migraine prevention, is a genetically engineered monoclonal antibody that inhibits calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP is a small protein with a well-established role in the initiation, transmission and heightened sensitivity to migraine pain. Alder's second program, ALD1613, targets adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and is intended for the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia and Cushing's disease. ALD1613 is undergoing Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling preclinical studies, and an IND submission is planned for 2016. Additionally, clazakizumab, a monoclonal antibody therapeutic candidate discovered by Alder designed to block interleukin-6, is licensed to Vitaeris Inc. For more information, please visit http://www.alderbio.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements relating to: the continued development and clinical, therapeutic and commercial potential of ALD403 and ALD1613; the initiation of future clinical trials and studies; and future regulatory filings.  Words such as “will,” “look forward,” “look to,” “potential,” “intended,” “planned,” or other similar expressions, identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not necessarily mean that a statement is not forward-looking. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon Alder's current plans, assumptions, beliefs, expectations, estimates and projections, and involve substantial risks and uncertainties.  Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements due to these risks and uncertainties as well as other factors, which include, without limitation: risks related to the potential failure of ALD403 and ALD1613 to demonstrate safety and efficacy in clinical testing; the availability of data at the expected times; the clinical, therapeutic and commercial value of ALD403 and ALD1613; risks and uncertainties related to regulatory review and approval processes and Alder's compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements; and other factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Alder's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 28, 2016, and is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will also be set forth in Alder's other reports and filings it will make with the SEC from time to time.  The forward-looking statements made in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release.  Alder expressly disclaims any duty, obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Alder's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based.