Heidelberg, March 17, 2008 – SYGNIS Pharma AG (Frankfurt: LIO; ISIN DE0005043509; Prime Standard) today announced that it has appointed Dr. Frank Rathgeb to the newly created position of Chief Medical Officer and to its Executive Management Board effective April 01.
Dr. Rathgeb, 50, has over 18 years of pharmaceutical experience within Byk Gulden and Altana Pharma AG, most recently as Corporate Vice President, R&D Pipeline Management and Strategic Controlling. He has also held the positions there of Corporate Vice President, Multi-Project Management, and Senior Director Clinical Research. Dr. Rathgeb has extensive drug development expertise and was previously responsible for developing drug candidates from preclinical stages through to US and EU regulatory approval, including e.g. ciclesonide. As Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Rathgeb will lead SYGNIS’ development projects that play a key role in the expansion of the Company’s CNS focused pipeline.
Dr. Rathgeb studied medicine at the Universities of Hohenheim and Freiburg, holds board certifications in anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine as well as clinical pharmacology and is a Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians.
Dr. Friedrich von Bohlen, Chairman of SYGNIS Pharma’s Supervisory Board, said: “Dr. Rathgeb’s appointment is a significant addition to SYGNIS’ executive management team. His expertise in drug development will be of great value for the further development of SYGNIS. The company is planning new clinical trials for its innovative and expanding portfolio including the Phase IIb study for our lead product, AX200 in acute ischemic stroke which is due to start in the second half of this year. Dr. Rathgeb is joining us just at the right time.”
Dr. Rathgeb said, “I am impressed with the quality of the science and CNS pipeline of this dynamic biopharmaceutical organisation. I am looking forward to steering and managing the development of SYGNIS’ projects including AX200 in its lead indication acute stroke.”
About SYGNIS Pharma SYGNIS Pharma AG, with head offices in Heidelberg, is a specialty pharmaceutical Company listed on the Prime Standard of the German stock exchange. The Company is focused on the research, development and marketing of innovative therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. These include stroke, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and neurological disorders resulting from injuries of the brain or spinal cord. All these disorders are characterized by the fact that, as the disease progresses, nerve cells are damaged and die. Although there is great medical demand, there are currently no or only inadequate treatment options available.
For further information please contact: SYGNIS Pharma AG: Dr. Franz-Werner Haas Vice President Operations +49 (0) 6221 454 812 franz-werner.haas@sygnis.de
Media-Contact: Julia Phillips Financial Dynamics Tel.: +44 (0) 20 7269 7187
