BOTHELL, Wash., Feb. 09, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALDR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing monoclonal antibody therapeutics for the prevention of migraine, Cushing’s disease, Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, today announced that the company continues to strengthen and expand its leadership team with the appointments of James B. Bucher, J.D., as senior vice president & general counsel, Mary Tou as vice president of commercial strategy, Annette Vahratian as vice president of quality and David A. Walsey as vice president of corporate communications.
“The expansion of our management team aligns with the maturation of our lead candidate, ALD403, into a pivotal trial program for the prevention of migraine and builds on the foundation we are ultimately setting for U.S. commercialization,” said Randall C. Schatzman, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer. “Specifically, Jim Bucher will head legal affairs as our first general counsel and a member of the company’s senior leadership team. Mary Tou will be responsible for helping construct our ALD403 commercial strategy, Annette Vahratian will focus on clinical and commercial product safety, and David A. Walsey will lead our corporate communications and investor relations efforts. With our ongoing progress we will further expand the team to ensure continued execution of our business plan.”
James Bucher is a veteran legal professional with about 25 years of legal experience, providing counsel on a wide range of strategic and business issues, general corporate matters, compliance, corporate governance, corporate finance transactions, federal securities laws, merger and acquisitions and commercial matters. Most recently, Mr. Bucher served as vice president, corporate legal affairs and secretary, and as the corporate compliance officer of Exelixis, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed biopharmaceutical company, which he joined in 2007. From 1991 to 2007, Mr. Bucher practiced as a corporate attorney at the international law firm Shearman & Sterling LLP, becoming a partner in 2001. Mr. Bucher holds a J.D. with distinction from Emory University School of Law, and a B.A. in biology from Colgate University.
Mary Tou brings 18 years of strategic marketing experience in the healthcare industry to Alder. She has worked extensively on both marketed and pipeline products in various therapeutic areas such as oncology, CNS, infectious disease, respiratory, genetic disorders, and autoimmune diseases. Before joining Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Mary was senior vice president for the West Coast division of Ipsos Healthcare. During her tenure at Ipsos, Mary conducted market research for comprehensive market understanding of neurology indications, including migraine, Parkinson’s Disease, ALS and multiple sclerosis. Prior to that, Mary was the first commercial employee at Seattle Genetics where she led marketing initiatives for Adcetris from Phase 1 through launch. Mary has also held various marketing strategy and analytic positions with MedImmune Inc. (Astra Zeneca), Chiron (Novartis) and Dey L.P. (Mylan). Mary holds an M.B.A. from St. Mary’s University and a bachelor of commerce from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Annette Vahratian has more than 25 years of industry experience and will direct programs at Alder focused on clinical stage product safety and quality and late-stage product development and commercialization efforts for late-stage products. Prior to joining Alder BioPharmaceuticals, she served as principal quality consultant for ten years at AV BioPharma Consulting, serving the biopharmaceutical industry in the areas of quality assurance, quality control and validation. From 1989 to 2002, she served in various leadership positions at Immunex Corporation (now Amgen) including senior director, quality commercial operations and vice president, quality. Annette was instrumental in the late stage development, commercialization and global expansion of Enbrel®. Ms. Vahratian holds a B.S. in biology and psychology from Hope College.
David Walsey brings 25 years of professional experience to Alder that includes healthcare expertise crossing a range of therapeutic categories and technologies. David joins Alder from BrewLife, a W20 Company, where he was managing director and head of the San Diego office, leading corporate communications and investor and public relations programs for multiple healthcare clients. He previously headed corporate communications and investor relations as a vice president for Optimer Pharmaceuticals. Prior to that David led corporate communications and investor relations at AVI Biopharma (now Sarepta Therapeutics), Arena Pharmaceuticals and Maxim Pharmaceuticals. David holds an LL.M. in taxation from the New York University School of Law, a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, and a B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College.
About Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc.
Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and seeks to commercialize therapeutic antibodies with the potential to meaningfully transform current treatment paradigms. ALD403, Alder’s lead pivotal-stage product candidate being evaluated for migraine prevention, is a genetically engineered monoclonal antibody that inhibits calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP is a small protein with a well-established role in the initiation, transmission and heightened sensitivity to migraine pain. Alder’s second program, ALD1613, targets adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and is intended for the treatment of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia or Cushing’s disease. ALD1613 is undergoing Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling preclinical studies and an IND submission is planned for 2016. Additionally, Clazakizumab, is designed to block the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and has completed two successful Phase 2b clinical trials. Alder is seeking strategic opportunities for clazakizumab. For more information, please visit http://www.alderbio.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the further development of ALD403 and ALD1613, our expectations for the initiation of future clinical trials and studies, availability of clinical trial data, patient enrollment and the therapeutic potential of ALD403, ALD1613 and clazakizumab, the pursuit of strategic opportunities for clazakizumab, the expansion of our leadership team and the continued execution of our business plan. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Any or all of our forward-looking statements in this press release may turn out to be wrong and actual events or results may differ materially. Our forward-looking statements can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider various factors, including the risks outlined under the caption “Risk Factors” set forth in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on November 5, 2015, and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Additional information will also be set forth in our other reports and filings we will make with the SEC from time to time. We caution investors that our business and financial performance are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties.
Media Contacts: David Schull or Lena Evans Russo Partners, LLC (212) 845-4271 (212) 845-4262 david.schull@russopartnersllc.com lena.evans@russopartnersllc.com Investor Relations Contact: David Walsey Alder BioPharmaceuticals (425) 408-8032 dwalsey@alderbio.com
