Healthcare Industry News: BTG
News Release - April 3, 2008
Acorda Therapeutics Names John Librie Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing
HAWTHORNE, N.Y.--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACOR ) today announced that John Librie has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Mr. Librie will continue to manage the sales and marketing efforts of Zanaflex Capsules® (tizanidine hydrochloride), as well as oversee all pre-commercial and commercial initiatives around the Company’s lead development compound, Fampridine-SR. Fampridine-SR is a sustained-release tablet being studied to evaluate its safety and efficacy in improving walking ability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).“John has done an outstanding job in helping to build out Acorda’s overall commercial capability. Under his leadership, Acorda has developed a deeply experienced neurology sales force and a marketing team with a unique understanding of the needs of the MS community,” said Ron Cohen, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Acorda Therapeutics. “John and his organization have a demonstrated track record of success, with sales of Zanaflex Capsules growing five-fold since the product’s launch in 2005. Acorda is now well positioned to market neurological therapies that we may successfully develop, including Fampridine-SR and other earlier stage compounds in our pipeline.”
Mr. Librie has more than 25 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and has led or been a part of fourteen product launches, including the 2006 launch of Zanaflex Capsules. Throughout his career, he has developed and expanded sales and marketing organizations to support products in specialty areas such as neurology, oncology and hormone therapy. As Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Mr. Librie will focus on developing and executing pre-launch and launch activities for Fampridine-SR, if approved, including programs designed to increase awareness of mobility issues among people with MS, prescibers, payors and other relevant constituents.
Mr. Librie joined Acorda in October 2003 as Executive Director, Marketing and Commercialization, and was promoted to Vice President, Sales and Marketing in March 2005. Prior to joining Acorda, Mr. Librie spent nine years at Genentech in various sales, sales management and marketing positions, and also served as Vice President of Sales at BTG Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company focusing on therapies for spinal cord injury, infectious diseases and wound care.
About Fampridine-SR
Fampridine-SR is a sustained-release tablet formulation of the investigational drug fampridine (4-aminopyridine or 4-AP). Laboratory studies have shown that fampridine can improve the communication between damaged nerves, which may result in increased neurological function. Fampridine-SR is currently being studied in Phase 3 clinical trials to evaluate its safety and efficacy to improve walking ability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
About Acorda Therapeutics
Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing therapies for spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and related nervous system disorders. The Company's marketed products include Zanaflex Capsules® (tizanidine hydrochloride), a short-acting drug for the management of spasticity. Acorda’s lead clinical product, Fampridine-SR, is in Phase 3 clinical trials to evaluate its safety and efficacy to improve walking ability in people with MS. The Company's pipeline includes a number of products in development for the treatment, regeneration and repair of the spinal cord and brain.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, regarding management's expectations, beliefs, goals, plans or prospects should be considered forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including Acorda Therapeutics' ability to successfully market and sell Zanaflex Capsules, the risk of unfavorable results from future studies of Fampridine-SR, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain FDA approval of Fampridine-SR, competition, failure to protect its intellectual property or to defend against the intellectual property claims of others, the ability to obtain additional financing to support Acorda Therapeutics' operations, and unfavorable results from its preclinical programs. These and other risks are described in greater detail in Acorda Therapeutics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Acorda Therapeutics may not actually achieve the goals or plans described in its forward-looking statements, and investors should not place undue reliance on these statements. Acorda Therapeutics disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.
Source: Acorda Therapeutics
Issuer of this News Release is solely responsible for its
content.
Please address inquiries directly to the issuing company.
