ROCKVILLE, Md., May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Human Genome Sciences,
Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) today announced that John L. LaMattina, Ph.D., who
retired in late 2007 as President of Pfizer Global Research and
Development, has been appointed to the HGS Board of Directors.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/HGSLOGO )
"We are honored to have John LaMattina join our Board of Directors,"
said H. Thomas Watkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, HGS. "John's
record of accomplishment over the course of a 30-year career at Pfizer has
established him as one of the pharmaceutical industry's outstanding
worldwide leaders of research and development. In particular, he played an
important role in growing Pfizer's pipeline in oncology and guiding its
investment in biologics and vaccines. We view the HGS oncology program as a
key driver of future growth beyond our late-stage products, and we look
forward to benefiting from John's experience and insight as we continue our
strategic investment in our pipeline."
As Senior Vice President, Pfizer Inc., and President Pfizer Global
Research & Development, Dr. LaMattina led the Pfizer's drug discovery and
development efforts in the United States, Europe and Asia. He joined Pfizer
in 1977 and over the years held positions of increasing responsibility for
Pfizer Central Research, including Vice President of U.S. Discovery
Operations, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Discovery Operations and
Senior Vice President of Worldwide Development.
Dr. LaMattina graduated cum laude from Boston College, and received his
Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of New Hampshire, where he
worked with Professor Robert E. Lyle. He then moved on to Princeton
University as a National Institutes of Health Postdoctoral Fellow in the
laboratory of Professor E. C. Taylor. Dr. LaMattina received the 1998
Boston College Alumni Award of Excellence in Science, and received an
Honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of New Hampshire in
2007.
Dr. LaMattina serves on the Board of Directors of the Neurogen
Corporation and the Board of Trustees of Boston College.
ABOUT HUMAN GENOME SCIENCES
The mission of HGS is to apply great science and great medicine to
bring innovative drugs to patients with unmet medical needs.
The HGS clinical development pipeline includes novel drugs to treat
hepatitis C, lupus, inhalation anthrax, cancer and other immune-mediated
diseases. The Company's primary focus is rapid progress toward the
commercialization of its two key lead drugs, Albuferon(R) for hepatitis C
and LymphoStat-B(R) (belimumab) for lupus. Phase 3 clinical trials of both
drugs are ongoing.
ABthrax(TM) (raxibacumab) is in late-stage development for the
treatment of inhalation anthrax, and the Company is on track to begin the
delivery in fall 2008 of 20,000 doses of ABthrax to the Strategic National
Stockpile under a contract entered into with the U.S. Government in June
2006. Other HGS drugs in clinical development include two TRAIL receptor
antibodies for the treatment of cancer. HGS1029, a small-molecule
antagonist of IAP (inhibitor of apoptosis) proteins, is expected to enter
Phase 1 clinical trials soon for the treatment of cancer. In addition, HGS
has substantial financial rights to three products in the GlaxoSmithKline
clinical development pipeline.
For more information about HGS, please visit the Company's web site at
http://www.hgsi.com. Health professionals and patients interested in clinical
trials of HGS products may inquire via e-mail to clinical_trials@hgsi.com
or by calling HGS at (301) 610-5790, extension 3550.
HGS, Human Genome Sciences, ABthrax, Albuferon and LymphoStat-B are
trademarks of Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The
forward-looking statements are based on Human Genome Sciences' current
intent, belief and expectations. These statements are not guarantees of
future performance and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that
are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from these
forward-looking statements because of the Company's unproven business
model, its dependence on new technologies, the uncertainty and timing of
clinical trials, the Company's ability to develop and commercialize
products, its dependence on collaborators for services and revenue, its
substantial indebtedness and lease obligations, its changing requirements
and costs associated with facilities, intense competition, the uncertainty
of patent and intellectual property protection, the Company's dependence on
key management and key suppliers, the uncertainty of regulation of
products, the impact of future alliances or transactions and other risks
described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In addition, the Company will continue to face risks related to
animal and human testing, to the manufacture of ABthrax and to FDA
concurrence that ABthrax meets the requirements of the ABthrax contract. If
the Company is unable to meet the product requirements associated with the
ABthrax contract, the U.S. government will not be required to reimburse the
Company for the costs incurred or to purchase any ABthrax doses, and we
will not receive any of the expected revenues relative to ABthrax. Existing
and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of today's date.
Human Genome Sciences undertakes no obligation to update or revise the
information contained in this announcement whether as a result of new
information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
SOURCE Human Genome Sciences, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.hgsi.com
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080416/HGSLOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/121115.html /
CONTACT:
Jerry Parrott, Vice President, Corporate
Communications, +1-301-315-2777, or Kate de Santis, Director,
Investor Relations, +1-301-251-6003, both of Human Genome
Sciences, Inc.
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