NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Achillion
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACHN) today announced that John C. Pottage,
Jr., M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, has resigned to
accept a senior clinical development position at GlaxoSmithKline. His
resignation will become effective on May 29, 2007. Milind Deshpande, Ph.D.,
Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, will assume leadership
of Achillion's clinical development activities in addition to his current
drug discovery responsibilities.
"John has played a significant role in building a strong clinical
development organization as Achillion moves toward pivotal trials for its
lead HIV candidate, elvucitabine. We wish John all the best with his new
endeavor and thank him for his years of service to Achillion," said Michael
Kishbauch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Achillion. "Milind's
prior development experience will enable him to maintain the momentum of
our clinical programs as we conduct our search for a new chief medical
officer."
Dr. Deshpande joined Achillion in September 2001 as Vice President of
Chemistry, was named head of drug discovery in April 2002, and Vice
President of Drug Discovery in December 2002. Prior to Achillion, Dr.
Deshpande was Associate Director of Lead Discovery and Early Discovery
Chemistry at the Pharmaceutical Research Institute at Bristol-Myers Squibb
from 1991 to 2001. From 1988 to 1991, he held a faculty position at Boston
University Medical School.
About Achillion
Achillion is an innovative pharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing
important new treatments to patients with infectious disease. The company's
proven discovery and development teams have advanced multiple product
candidates with novel mechanisms of action. Achillion is focused on
solutions for the most challenging problems in infectious disease -- HIV,
hepatitis and resistant bacterial infections. For more information on
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, please visit the company's web site at
http://www.achillion.com or call Achillion at 1-203-624-7000.
This press release includes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are
subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including statements
with respect to Achillion's ability to discover and develop drug
candidates. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are:
unexpected regulatory actions or delays; uncertainties relating to results
of clinical trials, including additional data relating to ongoing clinical
trials; Achillion's ability to obtain additional funding required to
conduct its research, development and commercialization activities and
Achillion's dependence on its collaboration with Gilead Sciences. These and
other risks are described in the reports filed by Achillion with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
All forward-looking statements reflect Achillion's expectations only as
of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as reflecting
Achillion's views, expectations or beliefs at any date subsequent to the
date of this release. Achillion anticipates that subsequent events and
developments may cause these views, expectations and beliefs to change.
However, while Achillion may elect to update these forward-looking
statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any
obligation to do so.
Contact:
Mary Kay Fenton
Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Tel. (203) 624-7000
Media:
Kari Watson
MacDougall Biomedical Communications, Inc.
Tel. (508) 647-0209
kwatson@macbiocom.com
SOURCE Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.achillion.com
CONTACT:
Mary Kay Fenton of Achillion Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., +1-203-624-7000; or Media, Kari Watson of MacDougall
Biomedical Communications, Inc., +1-508-647-0209,
kwatson@macbiocom.com , for Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
|
