Healthcare Industry News: hepatitis C
News Release - October 17, 2007
Phenomix Hires John Crawford as Chief Financial Officer and Appoints Arlene Morris to Board of Directors
Company Also Makes Three Executive AppointmentsSAN DIEGO--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Phenomix Corporation, a drug discovery and development company with lead programs in diabetes and hepatitis C, announced today John Crawford was named chief financial officer, and Arlene M. Morris was appointed to the company's Board of Directors. In his 25 years of experience, Crawford has served as a corporate officer or director for several companies, guiding them through listings on NASDAQ as well as facilitating acquisitions. Morris has more than 25 years of management experience in the health care industry, most recently as president and chief executive officer of Affymax Inc.
"John's extensive experience with public and private companies will be valuable as Phenomix grows its financial position," said Laura K. Shawver, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Phenomix. "We also welcome Arlene's insights as our operational, clinical and partnering initiatives evolve to support Phenomix' late-stage diabetes drug program and promising pipeline."
Phenomix also made three executive appointments. Julie Cherrington, Ph.D. was appointed president after serving as executive vice president of research and development. Chris Burnley was named executive vice president and chief operating officer from executive vice president and chief business officer. Brian Baker was appointed vice president of finance from director of finance.
"Phenomix' existing team has done a terrific job moving our drug discovery and clinical programs forward with superior execution and true passion for the patients we aim to treat," continued Shawver. "Augmenting the group with John and Arlene's extensive fiscal and operational expertise will be valuable as we advance our late-stage diabetes drug program and promising pipeline."
Crawford was most recently chief financial officer of NovaCardia Inc., which was recently acquired by Merck. He also served in this position at Cabrellis Pharmaceuticals and Conforma Therapeutics. In 1981, he was the first full-time executive at International Genetic Engineering Inc. and later was founding president of San Diego-based Corvas International Inc., directing both of the companies' initial public offerings. Crawford has been a consultant, executive officer and director for 12 venture-backed and privately funded technology firms. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Lipid Sciences Inc. Crawford received his B.S. degree in mathematical sciences from Stanford University and his M.B.A. in finance from University of Chicago.
Prior to taking the helm of Affymax in 2003 and completing a successful initial public offering three years later, Morris served as president and chief executive officer at Clearview Projects, a biopharmaceutical consulting firm. She was senior vice president of business development at Coulter Pharmaceutical Inc., and previously was vice president of business development at Scios Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From 1977 to 1993, Morris held positions of increasing responsibility at Johnson & Johnson, including vice president of business development for McNeil Pharmaceutical. She received her B.A. degree in biology and chemistry from Carlow College and studied marketing at Western New England College. Morris also serves on the board of directors of MediciNova Inc. and BIO, the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
About Phenomix Corporation
Phenomix is a drug discovery and development company building a portfolio of internally discovered, novel therapeutics for the treatment of major human diseases. Phenomix' lead program, PHX1149, is a DPP4 inhibitor in Phase 2b clinical trials as a once daily oral treatment for Type 2 diabetes. Phenomix' second program is directed at the treatment of hepatitis C infections through inhibition of the NS3/4A viral protease. Phenomix is based in San Diego, California. For more information, visit www.phenomix.com.
Source: Phenomix
Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its
content.
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.
