Healthcare Industry News: APT Pharmaceuticals
News Release - December 3, 2007
APT Pharmaceuticals Adds Paul Sekhri to Board of Directors
BURLINGAME, CA--(Healthcare Sales & Marketing Network)--Dec 3, 2007 -- APT Pharmaceuticals, a specialty drug development company primarily focused on inhaled treatments for serious lung diseases, announced today that Paul Sekhri has joined its Board of Directors, effective immediately.Mr. Sekhri founded Cerimon Pharmaceuticals in 2005 and currently serves as the company's President and CEO. He is also a board member for ARYx Therapeutics, the Cancer Research Institute and the International Health Organization. Mr. Sekhri's previous positions include President and Chief Business Officer of ARIAD Pharmaceuticals and Senior Vice President and Head of Global Search and Evaluation, Business Development and Licensing, for Novartis Pharma AG.
"Paul brings a wealth of experience leading and growing successful pharmaceutical companies," explained Dr. Stephen Dilly, President and CEO of APT Pharmaceuticals. "His guidance will be a tremendous asset as we build a portfolio of products to treat serious lung diseases and position the company for its next stage of growth."
"It is a privilege to join the APT board," said Mr. Sekhri. "The management team has the experience and insights into the pulmonary space that will allow us to bring important therapies to patients."
Last June, APT finalized an agreement with Novartis to acquire the worldwide rights to Pulminiq(TM), an immunosuppressant that demonstrated a 78 percent reduction in mortality in lung transplant patients compared with the control group, according to a 2006 study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. APT will begin a Phase III clinical trial of Pulminiq in early 2008.
In addition to Mr. Sekhri and Dr. Dilly, APT's Board of Directors includes Dr. Albert Cha, Managing Partner, Vivo Ventures; Mr. David Kroin, Managing Director, Great Point Partners; Ms. Camille Samuels, Managing Director, Versant Ventures and Mr. Fred Schwarzer, Managing Director, Charter Life Sciences. Mr. Kroin and Ms. Samuels joined the board in October when APT secured a $22 million round of Series A-2 venture funding.
About APT Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
APT Pharmaceuticals, a specialty drug development company primarily focused on inhaled treatments for serious lung diseases, is based in Burlingame, California. APT is backed by several leading health care investors; including Vivo Ventures, Versant Ventures, Great Point Partners and Charter Life Sciences. For more information, please visit www.aptbio.com.
Source: APT Pharmaceuticals
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