March 01, 2007: Santhera Board Proposes the Election of Klaus Schollmeier to the Company's Board
Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SWX:SANN), a Swiss specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on neuromuscular diseases, announced today that its Board of Directors has decided to propose the appointment of Dr Klaus Schollmeier, the Company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), to the Board. This appointment would be for a term of three years. Dr Schollmeier's appointment to the Board is subject to the approval at the upcoming Shareholder's Meeting, scheduled for April 23, 2007, in Basel, Switzerland.
Michael Lytton, Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented: "Klaus Schollmeier has been CEO of Santhera since its inception in 2004 and, previously, one of its predecessor companies, Graffinity, since 2003. Klaus Schollmeier has been a main driving force behind the Company's considerable success. Over this period, Santhera has developed an exciting portfolio of neuromuscular drug candidates and has raised close to CHF 190 million in new funds from both private and public investors. The Board believes that, with the addition of Klaus Schollmeier to the Company's Board, Santhera's decision making processes can become even more effective and efficient ensuring high quality and direct information flow between the Board and the Executive Management."
Klaus Schollmeier, CEO, added: "I feel extremely honored by my proposed appointment to the Company's Board. Over the last three years, Santhera has made considerable progress and has created significant value for all of its stakeholders. I consider today's decision as clear sign of the Board's confidence in me, in my executive team, and in the Company's ability to deliver on its goal of becoming one of the leading specialty companies focused on neuromuscular diseases."
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Additional biographical information is available at the Company's website www.santhera.com under About us/Executive Management.
For Further Information, Contact
Santhera Pharmaceuticals
Hans Peter Hasler, Vice-Chairman
phone: +41 (0)61 906 89 27
Thomas Staffelbach, VP Public & Investor Relations
phone: +41 (0)61 906 89 47
Media Contacts: Citigate Dewe Rogerson
David Dible
phone: +44 207 638 95 71
About Santhera
Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SWX:SANN) is a Swiss specialty pharmaceutical company focusing on the discovery, development and marketing of small molecule pharmaceutical products for the treatment of severe neuromuscular diseases. Santhera's vision is to become a leading specialty pharmaceutical company offering therapies for a number of indications in this area of high unmet medical need which includes many orphan indications with no current therapy.
Santhera currently has four clinical-stage development programs, three of which are investigating its lead compound, SNT-MC17 (INN: idebenone), in the treatment of Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA), Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). The fourth clinical program is investigating JP-1730 (INN: fipamezole) for the treatment of Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease (DPD) in cooperation with Juvantia, the compound's owner. The most advanced program, SNT-MC17 in FRDA, is currently in preparation for Marketing Authorization Approval (MAA) filing in Europe and in Phase III clinical development in the US while the other clinical programs are in Phase II. For further information, please visit www.santhera.com.
Disclaimer/Forward-looking Statements
This news release is not and under no circumstances is to be construed as a solicitation, offer, or recommendation, to buy or sell securities issued by Santhera. Santhera makes no representation (either express or implied) that the information and opinions expressed in this news release are accurate, complete or up to date. Santhera disclaims, without limitation, all liability for any loss or damage of any kind, including any direct, indirect or consequential damages, which might be incurred in connection with the information contained in this news release.
Forward-looking statements and other information contained in this release involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements reflect the current views, intentions and estimates of the Company. They are based on assumptions that may be inaccurate. Results could differ materially from those anticipated. Certain of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believe", "expect", "may", "are expected to", "will", "will continue", "should", "would be", "seek" or "anticipate" or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Furthermore, the Company does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.