Vernalis Plc Strengthens Commercial Expertise by new Appointment to the Board - Ian Clark from Genentech
20 December 2006
WINNERSH, U.K., December 20, 2006 -- Vernalis plc (LSE: VER, Nasdaq: VNLS) today announces the appointment of Ian Clark as a Non-Executive Director with effect from 1st January 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.”
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Enquiries:
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Vernalis plc |
+44 (0) 118 977 3133 |
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Simon Sturge, Chief Executive Officer |
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Tony Weir, Chief Financial Officer |
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Julia Wilson, Head of Corporate Communications |
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Brunswick Group |
+44 (0) 20 7404 5959 |
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Jon Coles |
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Justine McIlroy |
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Lazar Partners Ltd |
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Gregory Gin |
212-867-1762 |
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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® and Apokyn®, 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 US commercial operation to promote Apokyn® and co-promote Frova® 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
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Indication
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Phase I |
Phase II |
Phase III |
Registration |
Market
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Marketing Rights
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Apokyn® |
Parkinson’s Disease |
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x |
North America |
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Frova® |
Migraine |
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x |
US milestones
& royalties -
Endo |
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Frova® |
Menstrual Migraine Prevention |
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x |
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US milestones
& royalties -
Endo |
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V1512 |
Parkinson’s Disease |
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x |
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World
Wide |
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V10153 |
Ischaemic stroke |
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x |
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World Wide |
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V1003 |
Acute Pain |
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x |
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US Profit share
Option |
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V3381 |
Neuropathic Pain |
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x |
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World Wide |
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V2006 |
Parkinson’s Disease |
x |
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US
Co-promotion |
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MMPI |
Multiple Sclerosis |
x |
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None - royalty (Serono) |
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V24343 |
Obesity |
x |
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World Wide |
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® and Apokyn® 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.