Cerenis Therapeutics, Inc. Appoints Dr. Richard C. Pasternak As Chairman

TOULOUSE, France and ANN ARBOR, Michigan, USA - 3 September 2014 - Cerenis Therapeutics, the biopharmaceutical company developing CER-001, an engineered human apoA-I-containing pre-ß HDL mimetic for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, announced today the appointment of Richard C. Pasternak, MD, as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He will take over from Dr. Jean-Pierre Garnier, who is stepping down for personal reasons. The appointment is effective immediately.

Dr. Pasternak has spent the last 35 years as an academic and biopharmaceutical clinician-scientist, with a long-standing research interest in vascular disease, lipid disorders and atherosclerosis, as well as prevention and patterns of practice and disease management. He has been a Non-Executive Director on Cerenis’ board since November 2011. He is also a Professor at the Weill Cornell Medical College and a Senior Advisor to the Healthcare Venture firm Bay City Capital. He serves on the Boards of the Founder’s Affiliate of the American Heart Association, the Association of Black Cardiologists, and Essentialis Therapeutics where he was acting CEO in 2012-3.

Previously, Dr. Pasternak was Vice President, Clinical Research and Head Cardiovascular Therapeutic Area, and Vice President, Head of Global Scientific Affairs and Scientific Leadership at Merck & Co. from 2004 to 2010. He served as a key senior executive for Merck regarding critical issues related to worldwide scientific affairs, strategic business development issues, regulatory affairs, medical affairs, and political affairs.

Prior to joining Merck, Dr. Pasternak was Director of Preventive Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation at the Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

"Richard’s presence on the Board and his expertise in the cardiovascular arena have been instrumental to us, and we are pleased that he has agreed to become our new Chairman," said Dr. Jean-Louis Dasseux, President and CEO of Cerenis. "Our lead product is reaching a key stage in its development, having reported positive clinical trial results in two orphan indications, so Richard’s knowledge of the Company and its developmental strategy will be essential.”

Jean-Louis Dasseux added; “I would also like to thank our out-going Chairman, Dr. Jean-Pierre Garnier, who has helped us build Cerenis into a leading biopharmaceutical company bringing HDL breakthroughs to patients. We wish Jean-Pierre well in his other ventures.”

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

About Cerenis Therapeutics

Cerenis Therapeutics is an international biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of novel HDL therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. HDL is the primary facilitator of the reverse lipid transport, or RLT, pathway by which excess cholesterol is removed from arteries and is transported to the liver for elimination from the body. Cerenis is developing a portfolio of HDL therapies, including HDL mimetics for the rapid regression of atherosclerotic plaque in high-risk patients, and drugs which increase HDL for patients with low HDL. Cerenis is well-positioned to become the leader in the HDL therapeutic market with a broad portfolio of programs in development.

Since its inception in 2005, the company raised €117 M in equity with top tier investors: Sofinnova Partners, HealthCap, Alta Partners, EDF Ventures, Daiwa Corporate Investment, TVM Capital, Orbimed, IRDI/IXO Private Equity and Bpifrance. €10.7m was also provided by OSEO, the French agency for innovation, to support the development of CER-001.

About CER-001

CER-001 is an engineered complex of recombinant human apoA-I, the major structural protein of HDL, and charged phospholipids. It has been designed to mimic the structure and function of natural, nascent HDL, also known as pre-beta HDL. Its mechanism of action is to increase apoA-I and the number of HDL particles transiently, to stimulate the removal of excess cholesterol and other lipids from tissues including the arterial wall and to transport them to the liver for elimination through a process called Reverse Lipid Transport.

Issued for and on behalf of Cerenis by Instinctif Partners.

For more information please contact:

Cerenis Therapeutics:
Jean-Louis Dasseux, CEO
Tel: +33 5 62 24 09 49
info@cerenis.com

Instinctif Partners
Melanie Toyne-Sewell / Daniel Gooch
Tel: +44 20 7457 2029
cerenis@instinctif.com

Help employers find you! Check out all the jobs and post your resume.