SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 28, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hyperion Therapeutics (Nasdaq:HPTX) announced today that it has named Daniel G. Welch to its Board of Directors. Mr. Welch currently serves as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of InterMune, Inc., a public biotechnology company based in Brisbane, California.
"We expect that Dan's breadth of experience successfully leading commercial stage pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies will complement the expertise resident in our board and management team. As we approach our fourth quarter PDUFA date, we are actively planning for the potential launch of Ravicti™, and look forward to Dan's contributions in this critical effort." said Donald J. Santel, Chief Executive Officer of Hyperion.
Mr. Welch has more than 30 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Prior to InterMune, Mr. Welch served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc., from 2002 to 2003. From 2000 to 2002, Welch served as President of the pharmaceutical division at Elan, plc., and from 1987 to 2000, Mr. Welch served in various senior management roles at Sanofi-Synthelabo (now Sanofi-Aventis) and its predecessor companies Sanofi and Sterling Winthrop. There, while serving as Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, he led the successful worldwide launches of several leading products, notably Plavix®, Avapro®, Eloxatin®. From 1980 to 1987, Welch was with American Critical Care, a division of American Hospital Supply. He currently serves on the board of directors for Seattle Genetics, a biotechnology company and also serves on the board of directors for a privately held company. Mr. Welch holds a B.S. from the University of Miami and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina.
About Hyperion Therapeutics
Hyperion Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat disorders in the areas of orphan diseases and hepatology. Hyperion Therapeutics is developing Ravicti™ (glycerol phenylbutyrate) for two orphan indications: urea cycle disorders and hepatic encephalopathy.
Forward-Looking Statement
To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts regarding Hyperion, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Examples of forward looking statements contained in this press release include, among others, statements regarding our expectations regarding the timing of any commercial launch of Ravicti as well as expectations as to Mr. Welch's contributions to the board of directors. Forward-looking statements in this release involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks related to: the uncertain clinical development process, that the FDA may not be satisfied with preclinical data, including carcinogenicity data, the ability to obtain, and timing of, regulatory approval of Ravicti for the treatment of UCD or the success and timing of commercialization efforts; the fact that the patient population suffering from UCD is small and has not been established with precision; the ability to obtain adequate clinical supplies of Ravicti; and the ability to raise sufficient capital to complete the development and commercialize Ravicti in UCD. Hyperion undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to the business of the Company in general, see Hyperion's Prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2012.