DUBLIN, Ireland, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Donal J. Geaney, Chairman and CEO
of Elan Corporation, plc (NYSE: ELN) ("Elan") announced today the appointment
of two industry professionals to senior positions in the company, which
successfully completes a year-long programme to enhance and expand the
Company's biopharmaceutical senior executive team. Dr. Alison Pilgrim was
appointed Senior Vice President, Clinical Development and Mr. Michael George
was appointed President, North America.
Alison Pilgrim, M.D., Ph.D., will join Elan on January 1, 2002 as Senior
Vice President, Clinical Development, Biopharmaceuticals. Dr. Pilgrim
received her M.D. and Ph.D. from Oxford University. She has extensive
international experience in the clinical development (Phases I through IV) of
neurology, metabolic, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular and HIV compounds.
She has held senior clinical positions at Glaxo, Sanofi and most recently as
head of Clinical Development for DuPont Pharmaceuticals. During her 16 years
in the industry, Dr. Pilgrim made significant contributions in the clinical
development of several blockbuster products, including a leadership role in
the development of Glaxo's Sumatriptan(R) and Sanofi's Plavix(R).
Dr. Pilgrim's skills and experience will significantly enhance Elan's clinical
development capabilities, as we expand our clinical development activity with
Antegren, currently in Phase III (with Biogen), Alzheimer's disease
immunotherapeutic products, currently in Phase II (with AHP), and other
later-stage research programmes. With the addition of Dr. Pilgrim, Elan has
strengthened its leading global research and development presence in the
neurosciences. Dr. Pilgrim will report to Dr. Lars Ekman, President of
Biopharmaceutical R&D.
Mr. Michael George has more than 28 years of experience in the life
sciences and health care fields, most recently as Chief Executive Officer of
UroCor, Inc., prior to its acquisition on November 9, 2001 by Dianon Systems,
Inc. During his two-year tenure there as CEO the company's revenue increased
by 50% and its market capitalisation quadrupled, after which he presided over
the company's successful merger. Prior to that time, Mr. George spent nine
years at DuPont Pharmaceuticals, at which he held positions of Director,
Worldwide Marketing; President, European Operations and President, North
America. Prior to DuPont he had increasingly senior marketing and management
positions with Sandoz Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Mr. George
has a demonstrated track record of heading business units that generate
meaningful revenue and earnings growth. His primary focus at Elan will be on
consolidating and strengthening Elan's recently integrated United States
businesses and he will report directly to Mr. Daniel Welch, President ,
Worldwide Biopharmaceuticals.
Mr. Geaney commented, "The addition of Alison Pilgrim and Mike George
marks the completion of an important ongoing process to retain a group of
seasoned managers for our biopharmaceutical operations and we are delighted
that they will be joining the Elan team in senior roles. We believe that
Alison will strengthen and importantly, broaden our extensive later-stage
development pipeline, and we expect that Mike's experience and track record of
delivering superior operating results will serve Elan well as it continues to
grow its current brands, acquire strategic products and businesses and
prepares to launch new and exciting products from our pipeline. In the past
year other key external recruitments of senior executives included Daniel
Welch, President, Worldwide Biopharmaceuticals; Lars Ekman, M.D., Ph.D.,
President, Biopharmaceuticals R&D; Timothy Wright, President, Europe/ROW and
David Silver, Senior Vice President, Global Pharma Strategy. I am confident
that the team we have assembled is well prepared to exploit the many
outstanding opportunities we have at Elan."
Elan Corporation, plc is a leading worldwide, fully integrated
pharmaceutical company headquartered in Ireland, with its principal research,
development, manufacturing and marketing facilities located in Ireland and the
United States. Elan is focused on the discovery, development, and marketing
of therapeutic products and services in neurology, pain management, oncology,
infectious disease and dermatology and on the development and
commercialisation of products using its extensive range of proprietary drug
delivery technologies. Elan shares trade on the New York, London and Dublin
Stock Exchanges.
This communication includes certain "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
statements are based on management's current expectations but actual results
may vary materially due to various factors. The forward-looking statements in
this communication include statements about future operating results. Certain
factors, including Elan's inability to successfully market its products and
other economic, competitive, business and/or regulatory factors affecting
Elan's business generally, could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described herein. More detailed information about these factors is
set forth in Elan's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including Elan's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2000. Elan is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any
obligation to) update or alter these forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE Elan Corporation, plc
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Related links: http://www.elan.ie
CONTACT: investors, U.S., Jack Howarth, +1-212-407-5740, or +1-800-252-3526, or investors, Europe, Emer Reynolds, +353-1-709-4000, or +00800-28352600, or media, Max Gershenoff, +1-212-407-5740, or +1-800-252-3526
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