SEATTLE--(BW HealthWire)--March 12, 2001--Targeted Genetics Corporation (Nasdaq:TGEN - news) today announced the formation of the Board of Directors for CellExSys, Inc., the Company's majority-owned subsidiary focused on cell therapy technology. The initial members of the Board will be Edward O. Lanphier, Thomas G. Wiggans, David M. Schubert and H. Stewart Parker. Ms. Parker, President and Chief Executive Officer of Targeted Genetics, will serve as Chairman of the Board.
``The establishment of the Board of Directors is an important milestone in the development of CellExSys, and we are honored that these leaders in the biotechnology industry will be working closely with us as we work further to build the company,'' said Mr. Schubert, President of CellExSys. ``Stewart successfully led the spin out of Targeted Genetics from Immunex Corporation, Edward has participated in the establishment and growth of a number of biotechnology companies and Tom has over two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. The addition of these talented and experienced members of the biotechnology community to the CellExSys team is another step toward our goal of building the premier franchise in cell-based therapies. Moreover, I believe that our ability to attract such highly qualified individuals, who are directors of the Biotechnology Industry Organization, is a reflection of the enormous potential inherent in the CellExSys technology platform and the plan we have in place to realize that potential.''
Ms. Parker has been with Targeted Genetics since it was spun out of Immunex. Prior to forming Targeted Genetics, she completed ten years at Immunex most recently as Vice President, Corporate Development and President, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Receptech Corporation. She currently serves on the boards of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Emerging Companies Section of BIO (board chairman), WRQ, Inc., Regence Washington Health, The Technology Alliance, the University of North Carolina Board of Visitors, the University of Washington Arts & Sciences Advisory Council, and the Pilchuck Glass School. Ms. Parker received her B.A. and a M.B.A. in finance and international business from the University of Washington.
Mr. Lanphier is President and Chief Executive Officer of Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGMO - news), a company he founded in 1995. He has twenty years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. From June 1992 to May 1997, he held various positions at Somatix Therapy Corporation, a gene and cell therapy company, including Executive Vice President, Commercial Development and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Somatix, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of BioGrowth, Inc., a biotechnology company that merged with Celtrix Laboratories in 1991 to form Celtrix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From 1986 to 1987, he served as Vice President of Corporate Development at Biotherapeutics, Inc. Previously he served as Vice President of Corporate Development at Synergen Inc. and was employed by Eli Lilly & Co. in the strategic business planning-biotechnology group. He is a Director of BIO and a member of its Emerging Companies Section. Mr. Lanphier received his B.A. in biochemistry from Knox College.
Mr. Wiggans is President and Chief Executive Officer of Connetics Corporation (Nasdaq:CNCT - news). Prior to joining Connetics in 1994, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of CytoTherapeutics. From 1980 to 1992, he held various positions at Ares-Serono Group, including President of its U.S. pharmaceutical operations and Managing Director of its U.K. pharmaceutical operations. He also served in various sales and marketing positions with Eli Lilly & Co. Currently he is a Director of BIO, a governing member of its Emerging Company section and a Director of Paladin Labs, Inc. He holds a B.S. from the University of Kansas and a M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University.
Mr. Schubert is President of CellExSys. He joined Targeted Genetics in 1997 as Director, Communications and Strategic Relations and was promoted to Senior Director in 1999. In 2000 he was appointed to the position of Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives, a position in which he focused on spinning out the Company's assets in the cellular therapy area. Previously, Mr. Schubert was a Biotechnology Research Associate at Vector Securities International. From 1994 to 1996 he was the Senior Market Manager for the Immunotherapy Division of Baxter Healthcare Corporation. From 1993 to 1994 he was the Assistant to the President of Baxter International's Biotech Europe Group. Mr. Schubert holds a B.S. in Biology from Eastern Nazarene College, a M.S. in Biology with a concentration in Immunology from Utah State University and a M.B.A. with concentrations in Marketing and Management from the Pennsylvania State University.
Ms. Parker commented, ``Although CellExSys is a newly formed company, it is far from a start-up. There are over 70 patents and patent applications in the CellExSys patent estate and clinical and preclinical proof of concept data have been generated in a variety of disease settings. David is assembling a team of talented individuals who have experience in process development, immunology and cell therapy and the establishment of this board provides access to significant expertise in corporate and business development. I have enjoyed working with Edward and Tom on the Board of BIO and believe that they will be important assets to CellExSys as it seeks to commercialize its promising technology platform. I look forward to working with them and David as we move CellExSys forward.''
The formation of CellExSys as a wholly owned subsidiary of Targeted Genetics was announced in November 2000. CellExSys intends to complete a private financing transaction in 2001. |
