Trius Therapeutics Recruits Former J&J Clinician as Chief Medical Officer

SAN DIEGO, July 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trius Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing antibacterial drugs for the treatment of serious infections, announced today that Philippe G. Prokocimer, M.D. has joined the company as Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Prokocimer, formerly a Vice President for Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals and, before that Vice President of Anti-infectives Clinical Research with Aventis Pharmaceuticals, has been developing anti-infective drugs for the past 20 years and has been involved with the filing of five New Drug Applications (NDAs) including the antibiotics Doripenem, Synercid, Zagam (sparfloxacin) and Biaxin. Dr. Prokocimer also currently serves as Scientific Advisor to the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development. He will assume responsibility for the clinical testing of Trius’ pipeline of antibacterial drug candidates including the Company’s lead candidate, TR-701, a potential best-in-class second generation oxazolidinone that is anticipated to begin clinical trials by the end of this year.

“Dr. Prokocimer brings to Trius a wealth of clinical development experience,” stated Dr. Jeffrey Stein, President and CEO of Trius Therapeutics. “His international clinical trial and regulatory background and successful track record of drug approvals will be invaluable as our programs start entering the clinic.”

“The people and programs at Trius made this an extremely compelling opportunity,” stated Dr. Prokocimer. “I look forward to applying my drug development skills to bringing yet another important medicine to the clinic and patients.”

About Trius Therapeutics

Trius Therapeutics is discovering and developing innovative antibacterial drugs for the treatment of life-threatening infections. The company’s lead product candidate, TR-701 is a novel oral and IV oxazolidinone antibiotic with potent activity against Gram-positive bacterial pathogens. Trius’ pipeline includes three additional structure-based drug design programs directed against novel antibacterial targets. For more information, visit http://www.triusrx.com.

Trius Therapeutics, Inc.

CONTACT: John Schmid, CFO of Trius Therapeutics, Inc., +1-858-452-0370 x232, jschmid@triusrx.com; or media, Karen Sparks of Mentus, Life Science,+1-858-455-5500 x 275, karen@mentus.com, for Trius Therapeutics, Inc.

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