MALVERN, Pa., June 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AUXL - News) today announced the appointment of Armando Anido as Chief Executive Officer and President and member of the Company’s Board of Directors, effective July 17, 2006, as the Company looks toward commercialization of its pipeline products. Mr. Anido previously served as Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing of MedImmune, Inc. where he was also a member of that company’s Executive, Product Development and Management Committees, as well as the Chair of the Commercial Strategy Team responsible for the commercial management of MedImmune’s marketed brands. He currently is a member of the Board of Directors of Adolor Corporation. Gerri Henwood will resign as Chief Executive Officer, Interim President, and Auxilium Board member effective July 17, 2006 to pursue new opportunities given her track record as an entrepreneur. She will continue to work closely with the Company as a consultant.
“Gerri has done an outstanding job building Auxilium into a high-growth, specialty pharmaceutical company with a powerful, late-stage clinical pipeline. We are pleased that Auxilium will continue to benefit from her experience as she works closely with the Company as a consultant. Thanks to her unwavering energy and entrepreneurial drive, we believe Auxilium is well positioned to grow its Testim® franchise in the testosterone replacement therapy market and bring exciting new products to market. The Company will commence a pivotal Phase III trial with AA4500 for Dupuytren’s Disease, and has already begun a Phase III trial for its testosterone replacement transmucosal film product this year. Armando brings commercial development, management and organizational expertise to Auxilium, and we believe that he has the proper skill set and experience to unlock the full commercial potential of Auxilium’s current and future products,” said Rolf Classon, Chairman of Auxilium’s Board of Directors.
“I am extremely proud of our accomplishments over the last seven years and believe that Auxilium has never been stronger. I am confident that Armando will lead Auxilium to continued success and look forward to working with him to ensure a smooth transition,” said Gerri Henwood, CEO of Auxilium.
Mr. Anido stated, “Joining Auxilium at this time represents a unique opportunity for me as there is already a track record of commercial success and a strong management team and robust clinical pipeline in place. I look forward to working with Auxilium’s Board of Directors and management team to drive the Company ‘s future growth.”
Prior to MedImmune, Mr. Anido held several senior marketing positions at Glaxo Wellcome, Inc and its predecessor companies including Vice President, Central Nervous System Marketing, and Director of HIV Marketing. Prior to Glaxo Wellcome, Mr. Anido was in various sales and marketing roles at Lederle Laboratories, culminating in the role of Vice President, Anti-Infectives. Mr. Anido holds a Bachelors of Science in Pharmacy and a Masters in Business Administration from West Virginia University. Mr. Anido currently resides in North Potomac, Maryland with his wife and two children.
About Auxilium
Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on developing and marketing products for urology, sexual health and other indications within specialty markets. Auxilium markets Testim® 1%, a topical testosterone gel, for the treatment of hypogonadism through its approximately 130-person sales and marketing team. Auxilium has five projects in clinical development. Auxilium believes that AA4500, an injectable enzyme, has completed Phase II of development for the treatment of Dupuytren’s Disease and is in Phase II of development for the treatment of Peyronie’s Disease and Frozen Shoulder Syndrome (Adhesive Capsulitis). Auxilium’s testosterone replacement transmucosal film product candidate for the treatment of hypogonadism (AA2600) has commenced Phase III of development and should commence pivotal Phase III trials later this month. Auxilium’s transmucosal film product candidate for the treatment of overactive bladder (AA4010) is in Phase I of development. Auxilium has two pain products using its transmucosal film delivery system in pre-clinical development. Auxilium has rights to six additional pain products and products for hormone replacement and urologic disease using its transmucosal film delivery system, options to all indications using AA4500 for non-topical formulations, and other products for urology and sexual health. For additional information, visit http://www.auxilium.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains “forward-looking-statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, Ms. Henwood’s work for the Company as a consultant, the future growth of Testim® and the testosterone replacement therapy market, the future prospects for the Company, the timing for the commencement of various clinical trials for Auxilium’s product candidates during 2006, if at all, the Company’s search for additional manufacturing capacity for AA4500, and products in development for pain, urology and sexual health. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this release, including but not limited to, statements regarding future expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, financial guidance and other statements containing the words “believe,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “expect,” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements due to various factors, including general financial, economic, regulatory and political conditions affecting the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and those discussed in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006 under the heading “Risk Factors”, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and may be accessed electronically by means of the SEC’s home page on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov or by means of the Company’s home page on the Internet at http://www.auxilium.com under the heading “Investor Relations - SEC Filings.” There may be additional risks that the Company does not presently know or that the Company currently believes are immaterial which could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, any or all of these forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Therefore, you should not rely on any such factors or forward- looking statements.
In addition, forward-looking statements provide the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this release. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause the Company’s assessments to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.
Source: Auxilium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
