DGAP-News: Apricus Elects Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos, Ph.D. as New Chairman
(firmenpresse) - DGAP-News: Apricus Biosciences, Inc. /
Apricus Elects Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos, Ph.D. as New Chairman
11.12.2013 / 13:00
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SAN DIEGO, 2013-12-11 13:00 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
Apricus Biosciences, Inc. ('Apricus' or the 'Company') (Nasdaq:APRI)
(www.apricusbio.com), today announced that Kleanthis G. Xanthopoulos, Ph.D. has
been elected as Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors. Dr. Xanthopoulos
succeeds Mr. Rusty Ray in the Chairman role. Mr. Ray will continue to serve as
a Director and will assume key roles on the Company's audit, compensation and
corporate governance committees of the Board. Dr. Xanthopoulos has been a
member of the Apricus Board since 2011.
'I am honored to be elected Chairman of the Apricus Board of Directors during
this pivotal point in the Company's evolution,' said Dr. Xanthopoulos.
'Throughout 2013, Apricus has executed effectively on achieving its key
strategic goals, culminating in important regulatory approvals for Vitaros(r), a
defined regulatory pathway for Femprox(r) and the potential for significant value
creation through the licensing and commercialization of Vitaros(r) and Femprox(r).
I look forward to working with management and the Board to strengthen our
standing as a leader in the field of men's and women's health, and to ensure
the Company continues its record of execution, with the goal of maximizing
shareholder value.'
Dr. Xanthopoulos is an experienced and visionary leader in the biotechnology
and pharmaceutical research industries, with a strong foundation in both
operations and corporate development. He is currently President and Chief
Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Regulus
Therapeutics Inc. Prior to joining Regulus Therapeutics Inc. in 2007, Dr.
Xanthopoulos was the Managing Director of Enterprise Partners Venture Capital.
He co-founded Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc., served as President and Chief
Executive Officer from 2000 to 2006, and remained a Director until its
acquisition by Roche in 2011. Before that, Dr. Xanthopoulos was Vice President
at Aurora Biosciences (acquired by Vertex Pharmaceuticals) from 1997 to 2000,
and Section Head of the National Human Genome Research Institute from 1995 to
1997. Previously, he was an Associate Professor at the Karolinska Institute,
Stockholm, Sweden, after completing a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at The
Rockefeller University, New York.
An Onassis Foundation Scholar, Dr. Xanthopoulos received his B.Sc. in Biology
with honors from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, and his M.Sc.
degree in Microbiology and Ph.D. degree in Molecular Biology from the
University of Stockholm, Sweden. Dr. Xanthopoulos is a member of the board of
directors of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and Zosano Pharma
Inc., and is a co-founder and a member of the board of directors of Sente, Inc.
Additionally, Dr. Xanthopoulos received the Ernst&Young Entrepreneur of the
Year Award in Health Sciences in 2006 and was named Most Admired CEO by the San
Diego Business Journal in 2013.
About Vitaros(r)
Vitaros(r) has been approved for the treatment of ED by the European health
authorities and by Health Canada. Vitaros(r) is a topically-applied cream
formulation of alprostadil, a vasodilator, combined with our proprietary
permeation enhancer DDAIP.HCl, which directlyincreases blood flow to the
penis, causing an erection. Alprostadil is a widely accepted alternative to the
PDE-5 inhibitors for difficult to treat patients, and Vitaros(r), which was
determined to be safe and effective by the European health authorities and
previously by Health Canada, offers greater market opportunity due to its
patient-friendly form versus other alprostadil dosage forms and also relative
to oral ED products. With nearly 150 million men worldwide who suffer from ED
and an ED market size of approximately $1 billion in revenue in Europe alone,
Vitaros(r) represents a major market opportunity for Apricus and its commercial
partners given its unique product profile and its potential to treat a large
underserved population.
About Femprox(r)
Femprox(r) is a product candidate for the treatment of female sexual
interest/arousal disorder ('FSIAD'). Seven clinical studies have been
successfully completed to date, including one, 98-subject Phase II study in the
US and a nearly 400-subject proof-of-concept study in China. To date, no
product has been approved in the U.S. to treat FSIAD, a persistent or recurring
inability to attain or maintain adequate sexual excitement, causing personal
distress.
About Apricus Biosciences, Inc.
Apricus Biosciences, Inc. (APRI) is a pharmaceutical company that develops and
markets through its licensing partners, innovative treatments that have the
potential to help large patient populations across numerous, large-market
therapeutic classes including male and female sexual health. The Company has
one approved product, Vitaros(r), for the treatment of erectile dysfunction,
which is now approved in Europe and Canada and will be commercialized by
Apricus' marketing partners, which include Abbott Laboratories Limited, Takeda
Pharmaceuticals International GmbH, Hexal AG (Sandoz), Bracco SpA and
Laboratoires Majorelle. Femprox(r), the Company's product candidate for the
treatment of female sexual interest/arousal disorder, has successfully
completed a nearly 400-subject proof-of-concept study.
For further information on Apricus, visit http://www.apricusbio.com.
CONTACT: Apricus Investor Relations:
David Pitts or Lourdes Catala
Argot Partners
212-600-1902
david(at)argotpartners.com
lourdes(at)argotpartners.com
News Source: NASDAQ OMX
End of Corporate News
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Language: English
Company: Apricus Biosciences, Inc.
United States
ISIN: US9901429525
End of News DGAP News-Service
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