WARRINGTON, Pa., Nov. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq: DSCO), a specialty biotechnology company dedicated to advancing a new standard in respiratory critical care, today announced it has appointed John R. Leone to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.
“With over three decades of experience and an outstanding track record in pharmaceutical operations, commercial portfolio management, and financing life science companies, John’s expertise will be invaluable to our Board,” said W. Thomas Amick, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Offer at Discovery Labs, “As we prepare for the commercial launch of SURFAXIN® and continue the development of AEROSURF® and SURFAXIN LS, John will bring an important perspective in guiding the business and financial strategies we employ as we build our Company.”
Since 2007, Mr. Leone has been a Partner at Paul Capital Healthcare, a leading private equity firm that manages one of the largest dedicated healthcare funds globally. At Paul Capital, Mr. Leone has focused on investment opportunities in commercial-stage life science companies. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Leone was President and Chief Executive Officer at Cambrex Corporation, a publicly-traded life sciences company providing innovative solutions that accelerate the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Previously, Mr. Leone served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of U.S. Commercial Operations at Aventis Pharmaceuticals. In this position he had responsibility for all commercial business units, including oncology, metabolism, cardiovascular, dermatology, respiratory and anti-infective. Mr. Leone played a key role in spearheading the successful integration of its predecessor companies, Rhone-Poulenc Rorer and Hoechst Marion Roussel, to form Aventis.
“I am excited to join the Board to help guide and provide strategic input at this important juncture for the Company.” said John R. Leone, “I am impressed with Discovery Labs’ KL4 surfactant and aerosol delivery technologies and believe they have the potential to advance a new standard in respiratory critical care, beginning by addressing the unmet needs of premature infants at risk for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). I look forward to being a part of that change.”
Mr. Leone’s commercial experience also includes significant domestic and international executive management roles with Wyeth, where he held the following positions during his tenure: General Manager, Ayerst International; General Manager of commercial operations for Ayerst U.S.; Group Vice President of Wyeth International Marketing and General Manager, Vaccine and Pediatric Division. Mr. Leone started his healthcare career at Pfizer Laboratories, where he held various senior marketing positions in both the U.S. and International groups and was responsible for the commercial launch of numerous pharmaceutical products.
Mr. Leone also serves on the Board of Directors at ViroPharma Incorporated. Mr. Leone received his BS degree in Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and his MBA from the University of Colorado.
ABOUT DISCOVERY LABS
Discovery Laboratories, Inc. is a specialty biotechnology company with one focus to advance a new standard in respiratory critical care. Discovery Labs’ novel proprietary KL4 surfactant technology produces a synthetic, peptide-containing surfactant that is structurally similar to pulmonary surfactant and is being developed in liquid, lyophilized, and aerosolized dosage forms. Discovery Labs is also developing its proprietary drug delivery technologies to enable efficient delivery of aerosolized KL4 surfactant and other inhaled therapies. Discovery Labs believes that its proprietary technologies make it possible, for the first time, to develop a significant pipeline of products to address a variety of respiratory diseases for which there frequently are few or no approved therapies. For more information, please visit our website at www.Discoverylabs.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, all such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. Examples of such risks and uncertainties, including those related to the potential commercial introduction of SURFAXIN and AFECTAIR and Discovery Labs’ research and development programs are described in Discovery Labs’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and any amendments thereto.
SOURCE Discovery Laboratories, Inc.
