GAITHERSBURG, Md., April 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedImmune, Inc.
(Nasdaq: MEDI) announced today that it has appointed Lota S. Zoth, formerly
vice president and controller, as senior vice president and chief financial
officer, and has promoted the following executives, reflecting their expanded
responsibilities: Joan Brandt, Ph.D. to vice president, corporate quality
control; Michael J. Cowan to vice president, corporate quality assurance;
Christine Dingivan, M.D. to vice president, clinical development, head of
strategic operations; Lori A. Weiman to vice president, corporate
communications; and Peter C. Young to vice president, information technology.
"It is with great pleasure that I announce Lota's appointment as our new
CFO," said David M. Mott, MedImmune's chief executive officer. "Since joining
the organization in 2002, Lota has proven her value as an exceptional
financial executive, an outstanding leader and a terrific asset."
As chief financial officer, Ms. Zoth is now responsible for oversight of
the controller's group, treasury, risk management, information technology and
corporate communications. Prior to joining MedImmune in August 2002, she was
senior vice president and corporate controller for PSINet, Inc. She also
previously served as vice president, corporate controller and chief accounting
officer of Sodexho Marriott Services, Inc. and has worked for Marriott
International, Inc., PepsiCo, Inc. and Ernst & Young. Ms. Zoth is a certified
public accountant, and holds a bachelor's of business administration in
accounting from Texas Tech University.
"As the MedImmune organization continues to expand scientifically and
commercially, I am pleased to recognize several individuals who play key roles
in our future direction," Mott added. "From our existing, high-caliber talent
pool, we have created two new vice president-level functions within our
quality organization and a third within the clinical development group. We
have also elevated the corporate communications and information technology
functions, reflecting their important contributions to our continued success."
In her new role as vice president, corporate quality control, Dr. Joan
Brandt oversees quality control operations at all MedImmune facilities
worldwide. Having joined MedImmune in 2001 as senior director, quality
assurance, she most recently served as senior director, corporate quality
control. Prior to joining MedImmune, Dr. Brandt was vice president, quality
control for Parkedale Pharmaceuticals and held a number of increasingly
responsible positions in quality at the Hyland Immuno Division of Baxter
International. Dr. Brandt received a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a
doctorate degree in synthetic organic medicinal chemistry from the Catholic
University of America. She also served as a post-doctoral fellow at the Johns
Hopkins Regional Oncology Center.
With more than 20 years of quality and microbiology experience, Mr.
Michael J. Cowan was appointed vice president, corporate quality assurance in
January 2004. He is responsible for all corporate quality assurance
activities associated with MedImmune's product pipeline and for the release of
all products to market. Mr. Cowan previously served as senior director,
corporate quality assurance and held a number of increasingly responsible
positions in quality and quality assurance at MedImmune. Prior to joining
Aviron (now MedImmune Vaccines, Inc.) in July 1999 as director, technical
operations, Mr. Cowan served as senior director, quality assurance at North
American Vaccine, Inc. as well as in other capacities at Raytheon Engineers
and Constructors, Lederle Biologicals, Cell Products and Penick Corporation.
He holds a bachelor's and a master's degree in microbiology from Rutgers
University.
Dr. Christine Dingivan was appointed vice president, clinical development,
head of strategic operations in January 2004. She joined MedImmune in 1996 as
director, medical sciences in the Medical Affairs Department. Prior to being
named vice president, she served as project director for the siplizumab GvHD,
transplant and psoriasis programs. Since 2002, Dr. Dingivan has developed
strategic operations as the core operational component for the clinical
development department, consolidating the clinical operations, training,
medical writing, investigational drug management, clinical trials contracts
and business management functions. Dr. Dingivan received her bachelor's
degree in biomedical and chemical engineering from the University of
Pennsylvania and her medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School. She
completed her residency in general surgery at Northwestern University.
Ms. Lori A. Weiman has more than 20 years of experience in communications,
training and research in the healthcare, financial services, accounting and
legal industries. As MedImmune's vice president, corporate communications,
Ms. Weiman is responsible for the company's investor relations, public
relations, media relations, employee communications, community relations and
e-communication functions. Under her leadership, MedImmune's investor
relations function and the company's website were recently recognized as one
of the leaders in the biotechnology and healthcare industries by the
Institutional Investor Research Group and the IR Web Report. Prior to joining
MedImmune in 1999, Ms. Weiman was the director of investor relations and
corporate communications at MGI Pharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company
focused on oncology and immunology. Previously, she held a number of
increasingly responsible positions at the Inter-Regional Financial Group;
McGladrey & Pullen; and at Katz, McAndrews, Durkee Balch and Lefstein, P.C.
Ms. Weiman holds a bachelor's degree in English and political science from
Luther College.
Mr. Peter C. Young was appointed vice president, information technology in
January 2004. He is responsible for the direction of the information
technology departments at MedImmune's seven locations across the globe. Mr.
Young previously held the position of senior director, information technology
where he directed all integration activities resulting from the acquisition of
Aviron in 2002, including consolidation and/or synchronization of staff,
systems, facilities and IT business procedures. Mr. Young joined MedImmune in
June 1992 as manager, information technology. Prior to joining MedImmune, he
served as senior telecommunications analyst at Ameritech Services, technology
specialist at Ameritech Applied Technologies and engineer at Indiana Bell
Telephone. Mr. Young received his master's degree in business administration
from Indiana Wesleyan University and his bachelor's degree in computer science
and economics from Wittenberg University.
About MedImmune, Inc.
MedImmune is a leading biotechnology company focused on researching,
developing and commercializing products to prevent or treat infectious
disease, autoimmune disease and cancer. MedImmune actively markets four
products, Synagis(R) (palivizumab), Ethyol(R) (amifostine), FluMist(TM)
(Influenza Virus Vaccine Live, Intranasal) and CytoGam(R) (cytomegalovirus
immune globulin intravenous (human)), and has additional products in clinical
testing. MedImmune employs approximately 1,800 people, is headquartered in
Gaithersburg, Maryland, and has additional operations in Frederick, Maryland,
as well as Pennsylvania, California, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
For more information on MedImmune and its products, 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 MedImmune's filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission. The company is 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.
SOURCE MedImmune, Inc.
-0- 04/21/2004
/CONTACT: Investors: John Filler, +1-301-398-4086, or Media: Jamie Lacey,
+1-301-398-4035, both of MedImmune, Inc./
/Web site: http://www.medimmune.com/
(MEDI)
CO: MedImmune, Inc.
ST: Maryland
IN: BIO MTC HEA
SU: PER
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