Gaithersburg, MD, September 18, 2000 -- MedImmune, Inc. (NASDAQ: MEDI) today announced two new appointments and four promotions within the company. Judy Ways, Ph.D., formerly of Aventis Behring, L.L.C. (a part of Aventis, S.A.; NYSE: AVE), has been appointed vice president, regulatory affairs, and James Bruno, formerly of Pharmacia & Upjohn (now Pharmacia Corporation; NYSE: PHA), has been appointed vice president, international marketing. In addition to these new appointments, MedImmune has promoted several key executives: Edward Connor, M.D. to senior vice president, clinical development; Kathy Kantor, to vice president and controller; Timothy Pearson to vice president, treasurer and secretary; and Eric Tsao, Ph.D., to vice president, cell culture operations.
“MedImmune views the areas of regulatory affairs and international marketing as important elements for the continued growth of the company and our products,” commented Wayne T. Hockmeyer, Ph.D., MedImmune's chairman and chief executive officer. “Dr. Ways' experience with regulatory compliance and communication with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be an asset as we bring additional products through clinical trials. Mr. Bruno's business marketing experience in various global markets will also be essential as we continue our efforts to make Synagis® (palivizumab) available throughout the world.”
Dr. Hockmeyer added, “Even more gratifying than welcoming these strong new leaders to our organization is recognizing the growth and contribution of our existing management. Dr. Connor, Ms. Kantor, Mr. Pearson and Dr. Tsao have each been valuable contributors to our success and have been promoted to recognize their increased responsibilities within the company.”
In her new position, Dr. Judy Ways will be responsible for regulatory operations and pharmacovigilance activities in MedImmune's Gaithersburg, Frederick and West Conshohocken facilities. Prior to joining MedImmune, Dr. Ways held various titles at Aventis Behring, most recently senior director, quality and regulatory compliance, worldwide quality assurance. As a main contact for Aventis Behring to the FDA and other government offices, she was responsible for regulatory strategy and licensing submissions in the Americas, organizing foreign product licensing efforts and facilitating regulatory compliance actions. Previously, she was at the Glaxo Research Institute, a research center funded by Glaxo Wellcome (NYSE: GLX), where she had responsibility for gene therapy, respiratory and inhaled products. Dr. Ways holds a Ph.D. in cancer biology from Stanford University, School of Medicine and a bachelor's of arts degree in biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has authored several publications in her areas of scientific research, immunology and molecular biology.
As vice president of international marketing, James Bruno will be responsible for the international commercialization of MedImmune's products. Prior to MedImmune, Bruno was the director, global business management, infectious diseases, Japan, Asia/Pacific, Latin America at Pharmacia & UpJohn, where he was responsible for identifying and executing global commercial and strategic opportunities. Previously, he was at SmithKline Beecham (NYSE: SBH), where he held a number of international and domestic sales and marketing positions. Mr. Bruno holds a master's of business administration from Drexel University and a bachelor's of science in marketing from St. Joseph's University.
Dr. Edward Connor joined MedImmune as director of clinical studies in 1994 and was promoted to vice president, clinical development in 1995. Dr. Connor has played a critical role in the design and execution of MedImmune's clinical development programs, particularly directing MedImmune's clinical development of Synagis and RespiGam® (respiratory syncytial virus immune globulin intravenous (human)). As senior vice president of clinical development, he is responsible for overseeing all of MedImmune's clinical development efforts within the areas of infectious disease and immune regulation. Prior to joining MedImmune, Dr. Connor served for nine years on the faculty of UMD-New Jersey Medical School and Children's Hospital of New Jersey as chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. He was the principal investigator for several NIH grants, served as a consultant to the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, and World Health Organization, and was the Chairman of the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. In this role, he led studies regarding the epidemiology and management of AIDS in children, and the effects of antivirals on the transmission of HIV from mother to fetus. Dr. Connor holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Villanova University and a medical degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He is board certified in pediatrics and is a consultant in pediatric infectious diseases.
Kathy Kantor joined MedImmune in 1993 as a senior accountant. She has held various positions of increasing responsibility during the past seven years and has served as MedImmune's controller since 1998. In her new role as vice president and controller, she is responsible for MedImmune's financial activities, including general accounting, financial reporting, tax planning and compliance, manufacturing accounting, and budgeting and forecasting. Prior to joining MedImmune, Ms. Kantor was an accountant for Systems Center, Inc. (now SBC Communications, Inc.; NYSE: SBC), where she was responsible for financial reporting and corporate consolidation of all foreign subsidiaries' financials. She holds a bachelor's of business administration in accounting from Texas A&M University.
As vice president, treasurer and secretary, Timothy Pearson is responsible for MedImmune's treasury operations, investment management, risk management, benefit administration and other financial projects. Beginning October 1, 2000, he will also assume the responsibilities of corporate secretary. Pearson joined MedImmune in 1998 as assistant treasurer. Previously, he spent four years as the assistant vice president and assistant treasurer for Integrated Health Services, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: IHSVQ), where his responsibilities included treasury operations, bank relationship management and acquisition integration. Mr. Pearson holds a bachelor's of science degree in business administration from the University of Delaware and a master's degree in finance from Loyola College.
As vice president, cell culture operations, Dr. Eric Tsao is responsible for cell culture and fermentation process development, clinical supplies production, as well as all commercial manufacturing of Synagis®. He joined MedImmune in 1992 as a senior scientist in Development and started building the process cell culture and fermentation group and the Gaithersburg pilot facility. Prior to joining MedImmune, Dr. Tsao was with R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute, a division of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), where his responsibilities included development and scale-up of animal cell culture processes and cGMP/GLP production of monoclonal antibodies. Dr. Tsao holds a Ph.D. and an M.S.E. in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Tunghai University in Taichung, Taiwan.
Synagis® is a humanized monoclonal antibody marketed for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus in pediatric patients at high risk of RSV disease (see full prescribing information at www.medimmune.com/medimmune/products/synagispi.htm). RespiGam® is an intravenous immune globulin enriched in antibodies against RSV and is marketed for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract infection caused by RSV in children under 24 months of age with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or a history of premature birth (please see full prescribing information attached and at www.medimmune.com/medimmune/products/resppi.htm).
MedImmune, Inc. is a fully integrated biotechnology company focused on developing and marketing products that address medical needs in areas such as infectious disease, immune regulation and cancer. Headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, MedImmune has manufacturing facilities in Frederick, Maryland and Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and an oncology subsidiary in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. For more information on MedImmune, visit the company's website at www.medimmune.com.
This announcement may contain, in addition to historical information, certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated as a result of a number of factors, including risks and uncertainties discussed in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. MedImmune cautions that RSV disease occurs primarily during the winter months; the company believes its operating results will reflect that seasonality for the foreseeable future. The company is also developing several products for potential future marketing. There can be no assurance that such development efforts will succeed, that such products will receive required regulatory clearance or that, even if such regulatory clearance were received, such products would ultimately achieve commercial success.