Some nice PR...
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Scios Announces New Chief Scientific Officer
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug 17, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Scios Inc. (Nasdaq:
SCIO) today announced that George Schreiner, M.D., Ph.D., has been promoted to
Chief Scientific Officer for the Sunnyvale-based biotech company. In this newly
created position, Dr. Schreiner is responsible for the Company's scientific and
technical strategy for drug discovery and early stage product development.
Dr. Schreiner joined Scios in 1997 as Vice President, Cardiorenal Research. His
initiatives have advanced Scios' capabilities in the development of small
molecule drugs and have contributed to the emerging Scios pipeline of
therapeutics targeting disease mechanisms identified by novel biochemical and
genomic techniques. The first product of the cardiorenal research program is a
small molecule antagonist of p38 kinase, which is a potent inhibitor of the
inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF). This oral product will be
developed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and of inflammatory diseases
of the heart and kidney, and is scheduled to enter the clinic later this year.
"Scios' future looks bright, and Dr. Schreiner's effort at the company is part
of the reason for that," said Richard B. Brewer, Scios' President and Chief
Executive Officer. "His understanding of disease pathways as a physician and his
scientific creativity have proven to be an invaluable asset in the regeneration
of Scios' research pipeline of novel, cutting-edge therapeutics. The
accelerating productivity of our research group and our anticipated success in
advancing Natrecor to the market as an innovative therapy for congestive heart
failure provide an excellent foundation for building a successful,
product-driven biopharmaceutical company."
Dr. Schreiner, 51, received his B.A., M.D., and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard
University and Harvard Medical School, respectively. He was appointed Assistant
Professor of Medicine and Pathology at Harvard Medical School and subsequently
became an Associate Professor of Medicine and Pathology at Washington University
School of Medicine. He served as Vice President of Medical Research and
Pre-Clinical Development at CV Therapeutics prior to taking his position with
Scios. He has published extensively on scientific and clinical aspects of
cardiovascular disease and inflammation.
Additionally, Scios announced the resignation of John Lewicki, Ph.D., Vice
President of Research. Dr. Lewicki joined Scios in 1983 and has served as Vice
President of Research since 1988. Dr. Lewicki was responsible for the research
effort to discover and clone B-type natriuretic peptide, currently under
development by Scios under the trade name Natrecor. Mr. Brewer commented that,
"Our current success with Natrecor would not be possible without John Lewicki.
His contribution to the company over the past 17 years is impressive."
Scios Inc.
Scios is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development, and
commercialization of novel human therapeutics. Scios has commercial or research
and development relationships with Chiron Corporation, DuPont Pharmaceuticals
Company; Eli Lilly and Company; GenVec, Inc.; Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.;
and Novo Nordisk A/S, of Denmark. Additional information on Scios is available
at its web site located at www.sciosinc.com and in the company's various filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
