MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviron (Nasdaq: AVIR)
announced today that Carol Olson has been named Senior Vice President,
Commercial Development. In her new role, Ms. Olson will have responsibility
for forging strategic partnerships and Aviron's preparations for the launch of
FluMist(TM), the Company's intranasal influenza virus vaccine candidate. In
addition, she will play an important role in developing the Company's strategy
and expanding Aviron's product pipeline.
Previously, Ms. Olson was the managing director of the Churchill Madison
Group, a management consulting firm she founded to build new businesses in the
emerging medical and high-technology markets. In that capacity, she has
consulted with Aviron for nine months on the development of strategy and plans
for the FluMist(TM) intranasal influenza vaccine now under development. Prior
to that she spent nine years as a marketing executive in Hewlett-Packard's
Commercial Systems Division. She received a degree in Economics with honors
from Yale University in 1980, and an MBA from Stanford University in 1984.
"Ms. Olson is a key addition to the Aviron team," said J. Leighton Read,
MD, Chairman and CEO of Aviron. "Her breadth of experience in building new
businesses, in both the high-technology and life-sciences arenas provide
valuable insights as we shape our company's future."
Aviron is a biopharmaceutical company based in Mountain View, California,
whose strategy is to focus on the prevention of disease. The Company's goal is
to develop vaccines to prevent a wide range of infections that affect the
general population, providing a cost-effective means of addressing a number of
major diseases. The majority of the Company's products under development are
live vaccines against viral infections, including influenza, parainfluenza
(PIV-3), cytomegalovirus (CMV), genital herpes (HSV-2) and respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV). Aviron is also developing -- in collaboration with
SmithKline Beecham Biologicals -- a subunit vaccine against Epstein-Barr Virus
(EBV) infection, a major cause of infectious mononucleosis.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may
differ materially from those suggested here. Additional information concerning
factors that could cause such a difference is contained in Aviron's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997.
SOURCE Aviron
 back to top
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com or
fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 114000
CONTACT:
John Bluth of Fleishman-Hillard,
212-453-2000, for Aviron; or Fred Kurland of Aviron, 650-919-6500
|
