Paris, June 6 2006 - Neovacs (www.neovacs.com), a world-leading biotechnology company developing anti-cytokine and anti-viral regulatory protein vaccines, today announced the appointment of Guy-Charles Fanneau de La Horie as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Fanneau de La Horie replaces Alain Huriez MD.
“We are delighted to welcome Guy-Charles, who has considerable experience of the biotech industry in both Europe and the US”, commented Jean- Jacques Bertrand, President of Neovacs. “I’m convinced that his contribution and commitment will turn Neovacs into one of Europe’s biotech champions”. He added, “We wish to thank Alain Huriez for his three fruitful years with Neovacs”.
“I am really excited to be heading up Neovacs, where I’ll be working with a dynamic, and experienced team”, emphasized Guy-Charles Fanneau de La Horie. “I’m particularly impressed with the company’s high-potential portfolio of drugs and therapeutic vaccines, which position Neovacs among one of the most promising European biotech firms”.
Guy-Charles has more than 20 years’ experience in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors with Boehringer Ingelheim, Baxter, Schering-Plough, Biogen and IDM S.A.
Prior to joining Neovacs, Guy-Charles served as Vice-President and Director of IDM S.A., a biotechnology company he joined in 2004. Guy-Charles Fanneau de La Horie is a former Vice-President for Strategic Commercial Operations of Biogen, where he was responsible for the development, registration and marketing of Biogen’s late-stage and commercial pipeline in Europe. He joined Biogen in 1995 as the country manager for France, before becoming Director of Sales for the US. While at Biogen, he was in charge of the European registration of AVONEX for the treatment of early-stage multiple sclerosis. Prior to working for Biogen, Guy-Charles was at Schering- Plough, where he managed the sales and marketing team for Intron A and Leucomax in France, after having served as the USA-based international product manager for Intron A. Guy-Charles graduated from the Veterinary School of Lyon and has an MBA from INSEAD (France).
About Neovacs Neovacs is a worldwide pioneer in therapeutic vaccines against human cytokines (Kinoids) and immunosuppressive viral proteins (Toxoids). Neovacs was founded in 1993 by Professor Daniel Zagury, M.D., as a spin-off from Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris. Truffle Venture is the lead investor in Neovacs and is represented on the Board by its managing Director, Philippe Pouletty MD. In 2003, Truffle Venture asked Alain Huriez MD (one of its associates) to take over the general management of Neovacs. The company has invested more than €25 million in R&D since its inception and has notably received support from OSEO ANVAR (the French state’s Innovation Agency). The company holds 16 broad patents covering its Toxoid and Kinoid technologies and is developing several drug candidates for the treatment of AIDS, cancer and autoimmune diseases. Neovacs has signed development and licensing agreements with Sanofi Pasteur (for one of its first promising products, Tat Toxoid - a leading candidate for treatment of AIDS) and Debiopharm (for the development of a TNF alpha kinoid for potential indications such as cancer cachexia and autoimmune diseases). Neovacs was recently recognized as one of the most promising biotechnology companies in the EMEA region by the Red Herring in its prestigious “Red Herring 100 Europe” listing. For more information on Neovacs, please visit our website at www.neovacs.com
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. As such, they do not guarantee future performance; there are risks and uncertainties. Future scientific, preclinical, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, financial, commercial, business outcomes may be substantially different from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are effective only as per the date at the top of this press release. Press and analyst contact: Alizé PR Caroline Carmagnol +33 (0) 6 64 18 99 59 caroline.carmagnol@wanadoo.fr NEOVACS -- contact@Neovacs.com
