SAN DIEGO, March 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that Constance C. Bienfait has been named vice president of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications. Ms. Bienfait brings over two decades of investor relations, public and media relations and corporate communications experience to Metabasis. Most recently, she served as vice president of Investor Relations at Nabi Biopharmaceuticals and prior to that served as executive director of Corporate Communications for Kos Pharmaceuticals. In both capacities, she managed all aspects of the companies’ investor, public and government relations, as well as internal communications. Ms. Bienfait successfully participated in expanding the companies’ sell-side analyst coverage, broadening their institutional investor base, and raising their visibility with top tier media venues.
“Connie brings extensive experience in the execution of best practice investor and public relations strategies,” stated Paul Laikind, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Her interaction with growing high-tech, biotech and pharmaceutical companies brings an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing these dynamic industries. I expect that the credibility and respect she has garnered in her relationships with the investment and press communities will be instrumental in advancing Metabasis’ investor and public relations initiatives.”
Prior to Nabi and Kos, Ms. Bienfait managed investor, media and analyst relations at Viant Corporation, where she was the liaison between Viant and sell-side analysts, institutional investors, media, shareholders and Nasdaq. She also served as vice president at Morgen-Walke Associates, a New York City investor and public relations consulting firm, where she advised clients on all levels of strategic issues, crisis management, and disclosure requirements, as well as public relations, marketing and branding initiatives.
Ms. Bienfait attended the London School of Economics graduate program and received her B.S. in Economics with honors from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
About Metabasis (www.mbasis.com):
Metabasis Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs to address some of the world’s most widespread and costly chronic diseases involving pathways in the liver. The Company has established a pipeline that includes clinical stage and preclinical product candidates targeting major diseases with significant unmet medical needs. Targeted diseases include metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia and obesity as well as liver diseases such as hepatitis and primary liver cancer. Metabasis has developed several proprietary technologies for use in discovering and optimizing drugs, including the NuMimetic(TM) and HepDirect(R) technologies. Metabasis is continuing to identify and develop new product candidates using its proprietary technologies and expertise.
Forward-Looking Statements:
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature constitute “forward-looking statements.” Such statements include references to the advancement of Metabasis’ investor and public relations initiatives. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause Metabasis’ actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include those discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of Metabasis’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Metabasis is providing this information as of this date of this release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc.
CONTACT: Constance C. Bienfait, Vice President, Investor Relations &Corporate Communications of Metabasis Therapeutics, Inc., +1-858-622-5575
Web site: http://www.mbasis.com/
