HOUSTON, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Encysive Pharmaceuticals today announced the appointment of George W. Cole as Chief Operating Officer (COO), a new position within the Company. As COO, Mr. Cole will oversee worldwide marketing and sales operations, and manufacturing in support of the anticipated launch of Thelin(TM) (sitaxsentan sodium) in 2006. He will report directly to Bruce D. Given, M.D., Encysive's President and Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Cole previously served for more than 10 years in senior management roles with Altana Pharma U.S., a subsidiary of the German-based pharmaceutical company Altana Pharma AG. During his tenure, he served as President of the company's branded and generic businesses, as well as Chairman of Altana's global operating committee. He led Altana in building its own clinical development and regulatory affairs divisions, and strengthened the company's marketing capabilities in the United States. Prior to joining Altana, Mr. Cole was Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Savage Laboratories, a division of Altana, Inc.
"The addition of George adds tremendous depth to our management team as we prepare for the potential commercial launch of Thelin, and make the transition toward a fully-integrated pharmaceutical company," commented Dr. Given. "By adding a chief operating officer with proven leadership skills, we're better positioned to successfully execute our marketing plans while remaining focused on advancing our product pipeline, including evaluations of Thelin in new indications and clinical studies of our next generation, highly selective endothelin antagonist, TBC3711."
Mr. Cole holds an M.B.A. from the University of Evansville and a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from the University of Louisiana. He is also a board member of the National Pharmaceutical Council and the Health Institute of New Jersey.
About Encysive Pharmaceuticals
Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel, synthetic, small molecule compounds to address unmet medical needs. Our research and development programs are predominantly focused on the treatment and prevention of interrelated diseases of the vascular endothelium and exploit our expertise in the area of the intravascular inflammatory process, referred to as the inflammatory cascade, and vascular diseases. We have successfully developed one FDA-approved drug, Argatroban, for the treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia that is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline. The NDA for our lead drug candidate Thelin(TM) (sitaxsentan sodium), an endothelin A receptor antagonist for the treatment of PAH, is now under active review by the Cardio- Renal Division of the FDA. The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products is currently reviewing a Marketing Authorization Application for approval of Thelin within the European Union. In addition, we have an earlier stage clinical product candidate in development, TBC3711, a next generation endothelin receptor antagonist. To learn more about Encysive Pharmaceuticals please visit our web site: http://www.encysive.com .
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Among those risks, trends and uncertainties are our estimate of the sufficiency of our existing capital resources, our ability to raise additional capital to fund cash requirements for future operations, timelines for initiating new clinical trials, planned announcements of clinical data, the possibility of obtaining regulatory approval, our ability to manufacture and sell any products, potential drug candidates, their potential therapeutic effect, market acceptance or our ability to earn a profit from sales or licenses of any drug candidate, our ability to discover new drugs in the future, and our ability to establish future collaborative arrangements. In particular, careful consideration should be given to cautionary statements made in the various reports Encysive, including as Texas Biotechnology Corporation, has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Encysive undertakes no duty to update or revise these forward-looking statements.
Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc.CONTACT: investors, Ann Tanabe of Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc.,+1-713-796-8822; or Marcy Strickler of The Trout Group, +1-212-477-9007,ext. 27; or media, Dan Budwick of BMC Communications, +1-212-477-9007, ext.14, both for Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Web site: http://www.encysive.com/
