Health & Fitness
Health and Fitness
Health and Fitness
Fri, June 17, 2011
Thu, June 16, 2011 Santarus Appoints Wendell Wierenga Executive Vice President, Research and Development
SAN DIEGO--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Santarus, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNTS), a specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that Wendell Wierenga, Ph.D., will join the company in the newly created position of executive vice president, research and development, effective June 20, 2011. Dr. Wierenga will have responsibility for overseeing clinical research, regulatory affairs, quality assurance, medical affairs and pharmacovigilance.
"I believe Santarus has one of the most interesting combinations of commercial products and high potential pipeline products in the small-cap pharmaceutical space."
aWe are extremely pleased that Wendell is joining the Santarus executive team,a said Gerald T. Proehl, president and chief executive officer. aWe intend to call upon his wealth of experience successfully managing pharmaceutical and biologic drug development to oversee the important activities supporting the advancement of our development pipeline that includes three Phase III investigational drugs and one in Phase I testing.a
aThis is an exciting time to join Santarus and I look forward to working with the executive team to successfully advance the development products through the clinical and regulatory process,a said Dr. Wierenga. aI believe Santarus has one of the most interesting combinations of commercial products and high potential pipeline products in the small-cap pharmaceutical space.a
Dr. Wierenga most recently served for four years as executive vice president, research and development of privately held Ambit Biosciences Corporation, where he was responsible for all research and drug development activities including clinical, regulatory affairs and manufacturing. From 2003 to 2007, he was executive vice president, research and development of Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., where he led all research and drug development activities. From 2000 to 2003, Dr. Wierenga served as the chief executive officer of biotechnology company Syrrx, Inc., a spinout from the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation. Dr. Wierenga served 10 years with Warner-Lambert, joining as senior vice president of research for Parke-Davis, the companya™s pharmaceutical research division, and promoted in 1999 to senior vice president, worldwide pharmaceutical sciences, technologies and development. He began his career in 1974 as a research scientist at The Upjohn Company and was director of cancer and viral diseases research when he left in 1990.
Dr. Wierenga currently serves on the board of directors of publicly traded Cytokinetics, Inc., Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and XenoPort, Inc. Dr. Wierenga has authored or co-authored more than 60 publications and has been a frequent speaker at medical conferences. Dr. Wierenga holds a B.A. in chemistry from Hope College and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Stanford University.
About Santarus
Santarus, Inc. is a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing proprietary products that address the needs of patients treated by physician specialists. The companya™s current commercial efforts are focused on GLUMETZA® (metformin hydrochloride extended release tablets) and CYCLOSET® (bromocriptine mesylate) tablets, which are indicated as adjuncts to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
Santarus also has a diverse development pipeline, including three investigational drugs in Phase III clinical programs: budesonide MMX® for induction of remission of active ulcerative colitis, RHUCIN® (recombinant human C1 inhibitor) for treatment of acute attacks of hereditary angioedema and rifamycin SV MMX® for treatment of travelersa™ diarrhea, in addition to other earlier-stage development programs. More information about Santarus is available on the companya™s website at [ www.santarus.com ].
Santarus cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Santarus that any of its plans or objectives will be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Santarus' businesses, including, without limitation:difficulties or delays in development, testing, manufacturing and marketing of, and obtaining and maintaining regulatory approvals for, Santarus' products; and other risks detailed in prior press releases as well as in public periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and Santarus undertakes no obligation to revise or update this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. This caution is made under the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Santarus® is a trademark of Santarus, Inc.GLUMETZA® is a trademark of Biovail Laboratories International S.r.l. licensed exclusively in the United States to Depomed, Inc.CYCLOSET® is a trademark of VeroScience LLC.MMX® is a trademark of Cosmo Technologies Limited. RHUCIN® is a trademark of Pharming Group NV.
