ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Appoints Robert E. Hoffman as Independent Director


SINGAPORE, Oct. 30, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ASLN, TPEx:6497), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company targeting cancers that are both highly prevalent in Asia and orphan indications in the United States and Europe, announced today the appointment of Robert E. Hoffman as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Mr. Hoffman has more than 20 years of experience in leading and managing global biotechnology companies, and working with a number of public, late-stage oncology companies.

In planned board changes following ASLAN’s listing on NASDAQ earlier this year, Professor Lai Mei-Shu and Dr. Jerome Shen, who served as Independent Non-Executive Director and Non-Executive Director respectively, will step down from ASLAN’s Board of Directors concurrently.

Carl Firth, Chief Executive Officer, ASLAN Pharmaceuticals said: “We are delighted to welcome Robert to ASLAN’s Board of Directors. The depth of his expertise in financial and operational leadership in US-listed biotech companies will be a great asset to ASLAN as we focus on the late-stage development of our clinical programs. On behalf of the Board and management, I would like to thank Professor Lai Mei-Shu and Dr Jerome Shen for their contributions to the growth of the company in the past years. We have benefited immensely from their guidance and insights.”

Robert E. Hoffman is currently the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Finance of Heron Therapeutics, a NASDAQ-listed biotechnology company. Mr. Hoffman has previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Innovus Pharmaceuticals and was Chief Financial Officer of AnaptysBio. He was part of the founding management team of Arena Pharmaceuticals in 1997 until his departure in 2015 most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. Robert received his BBA from St. Bonaventure University, and is licensed as a CPA (inactive) in the state of California.

Media and IR contacts

Emma Thompson
Spurwing Communications
Tel: +65 6340 7287
Email: ASLAN@spurwingcomms.com 
Robert Uhl
Westwicke Partners
Tel: +1 858 356 5932
Email: robert.uhl@westwicke.com

About ASLAN Pharmaceuticals
ASLAN Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:ASLN, TPEx:6497) is a clinical-stage oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for global markets. ASLAN targets diseases that are both highly prevalent in Asia and orphan indications in the United States and Europe. Led by a senior management team with extensive experience in global and regional development and commercialisation, ASLAN is headquartered in Singapore and has offices in Taiwan and China. ASLAN’s portfolio is comprised of four product candidates which target validated growth pathways applied to new patient segments, novel immune checkpoints and novel cancer metabolic pathways. ASLAN’s partners include Array BioPharma, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Almirall and CSL. For additional information please visit www.aslanpharma.com.

Forward looking statements
This release and the accompanying financial information, if any, contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the management of ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Limited and/or its affiliates (the "Company"). These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the Company’s business strategy, the Company’s plans to develop and commercialise its product candidates, the safety and efficacy of the Company’s product candidates, the Company’s plans and expected timing with respect to regulatory filings and approvals, and the size and growth potential of the markets for the Company’s product candidates. The Company’s estimates, projections and other forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations of future events and trends, which affect or may affect the Company’s business, strategy, operations or financial performance, and inherently involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties.  Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation the risk factors described in the Company’s US Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports (Commission File No. 001-38475), including the Company’s prospectus dated May 8, 2018 filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on such date.  

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