SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Opiant”) (OTCQB:OPNT), a specialty pharmaceutical company developing pharmacological treatments for substance use, addictive and eating disorders, announced the appointments of Gabrielle A. Silver, M.D., and Ann MacDougall, J.D., to the company’s Board of Directors.
Dr. Silver has extensive experience managing the growth and profitability of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics businesses with a key focus on neurology. She is currently a partner at Brunswick Group, an advisory firm specializing in critical issues and corporate relations, where she is co-leading the firm’s global pharmaceutical and healthcare offering. Prior to joining Brunswick, she was an executive at GE Healthcare’s Operating Room Solutions business, a new division at GE Healthcare. Prior to this, Dr. Silver was Global Head of Neuroscience/General Medicine Strategic Marketing at GE. In this role, she developed the disease-focused growth strategy across the diagnostics and imaging portfolio. Earlier in her career, Dr. Silver was the director of the CNS Franchise of Eisai Ltd., UK for which she was responsible for growth and profitability of key brands in the UK including Aricept® and Zonegran®. Prior to her tenure at Eisai, she was Therapeutic Area Director of Neuroscience at Bristol-Myers Squibb UK. Dr. Silver received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Bristol and her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of London. She is also a Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine in the UK.
Ms. MacDougall has extensive global experience spanning both operating and legal roles for both private and non-profit organizations. Currently, she is President of Encore.org, a national organization building a movement for individuals developing second careers in public or non-profit service. Prior to Encore.org, Ms. MacDougall was Chief Operating Officer of Acumen, an investment fund focused on goods and services for low-income customers. She had a long career managing legal matters at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, including as General Counsel in the U.S. and Deputy General Counsel based in Paris. Ms. MacDougall earned her B.A. at Tufts University and her J.D. at Brooklyn Law School.
“With our first product, NARCAN® Nasal Spray, now commercially-available in the U.S. via our partner, Adapt Pharma Limited, we are now directing our efforts to advancing our pipeline candidates in development for addiction, substance use disorders and eating disorders,” said Roger Crystal, M.D., Chief Executive Officer of Opiant. “In parallel with our clinical development work, we are building a corporate structure that reflects our development as a commercial-stage pharmaceutical company. These appointments to our board are part of that process. We look forward to both Dr. Silver’s and Ms. MacDougall’s participation and contribution to the company in the coming years.”
Dr. Silver added, “Opiant’s approach to addressing the unmet needs of a variety of substance abuse and addictive disorders could have a significant impact on patients and their families. I look forward to working with the Opiant management team in efficiently advancing their clinical candidates.”
Ms. MacDougall said, “Opiant is tackling very serious public health issues with their nasal opioid antagonist technology, which could have a significant impact on underserved patient populations. I look forward to working with the Opiant management team as they advance their corporate structure and governance processes in line with their advances in the clinical development realm.”
About Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a specialty pharmaceutical company developing pharmacological treatments for substance use, addictive and eating disorders. Over 45 million people in the U.S. have one of these disorders. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), describes these disorders as chronic relapsing brain diseases which burden society at both the individual and community levels. With its innovative opioid antagonist nasal delivery technology, Opiant is positioned to become a leader in these treatment markets. Its first product, NARCAN® Nasal Spray, is approved for marketing in the U.S. by the company’s partner, Adapt Pharma Limited. Currently, Opiant is developing opioid antagonists for the treatment of substance use, addictive and eating disorders, with a near term focus on cocaine use disorder and binge eating disorder (BED). For more information please visit: www.opiant.com.
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