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Human Genome Sciences Names Tuomo Ptsi Vice President, HGS Europe

^{Published on 2010-08-13 04:05:53 - Market Wire}
 

ROCKVILLE, Md.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) announced today that Tuomo Ptsihas joined the Company as Vice President, HGS Europe. Mr. Ptsi, formerly Regional Vice President a" Northern Europe at Celgene International, will be responsible for European sales, marketing and medical affairs across the HGS product portfolio, and will report to Barry A. Labinger, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer.

"Tuomo brings more than 20 years of experience to HGS as a leader of successful biopharmaceutical commercial organizations across Europe, and we are pleased to have him join our team."

aTuomo Ptsi will play a lead role in building and leading the HGS organization in Europe. This organization will work alongside GlaxoSmithKline to launch BENLYSTA® for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, assuming regulatory approvals, and it will be a major step towards establishing our capability to commercialize potential future products in Europe independently,a said Mr. Labinger. aTuomo brings more than 20 years of experience to HGS as a leader of successful biopharmaceutical commercial organizations across Europe, and we are pleased to have him join our team.a

Mr. Ptsi was one of the first employees in Celgenea™s European commercial organization, which was established in 2006 in anticipation of the launch of Revlimid (lenalidomide), an important treatment for multiple myeloma. At Celgene, Mr. Ptsi held a number of leadership positions, including Head of European Marketing and General Manager of the Western European Region, as well as his most recent position as Regional Vice President, Northern Europe. Prior to joining Celgene, Mr. Ptsi was with Amgen, Inc. for eleven years, serving in a number of senior brand management and marketing positions, including Director of Global Marketing. Prior to Amgen, Mr. Ptsi held product management and clinical research positions in Europe with Rh'ne-Poulenc Rorer and Eli Lilly. Mr. Ptsi is a registered pharmacist with a Master of Science degree in pharmacology from the Helsinki University School of Pharmacy, Finland.

BENLYSTA (belimumab) is being developed by HGS and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) under a co-development and commercialization agreement entered into in 2006. In June 2010, GSK submitted a Marketing Authorization Application to the European Medicines Agency, seeking approval to market BENLYSTA in Europe for treatment of seropositive patients with SLE, and HGS submitted a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking approval to market BENLYSTA for the same indication in the United States. No new drug for lupus has been approved by regulatory authorities in more than 50 years.

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.

For more information about HGS, please visit the Companya™s web site at [ www.hgsi.com ]. Health professionals and patients interested in clinical trials of HGS products may inquire via e-mail to [ medinfo@hgsi.com ] or by calling HGS at (877) 822-8472.

HGS, Human Genome Sciences and BENLYSTA are trademarks of Human Genome Sciences, Inc. Other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners.

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 Sciencesa™ 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 Human Genome Sciencesa™ unproven business model, its dependence on new technologies, the uncertainty and timing of clinical trials and regulatory approvals, Human Genome Sciencesa™ 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, Human Genome Sciencesa™ 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 Companya™s filings with the SEC. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of todaya™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.