Alan L. Hillyard, Ph.D. Joins Axys Pharmaceuticals as Vice President, Information Systems
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--July 16, 1999--Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:AXPH) today announced that Alan L. Hillyard, Ph.D., age 49, has joined Axys as vice president of Information Systems.
In his new position at Axys, Dr. Hillyard will be responsible for the integration of all the components of the company's information infrastructure including bioinformatics, cheminformatics, structural biology, pharmacology and clinical development.
"Information technologies are playing an ever more critical role in drug discovery and development, due in large part to advances in information from the human genome project and related databases from potentially useful organisms," stated John Walker, chairman and chief executive officer of Axys Pharmaceuticals.
"Alan's extensive expertise will be instrumental to expanding the role of IT within Axys, especially as it pertains to knowledge management. As an example, we are looking to Alan to integrate the publicly available data we use in our target identification and validation efforts with that which we devise internally from gene sequencing, cloning, screening, combinatorial chemistry, structural biology, and development."
Prior to joining Axys, Dr. Hillyard was vice president, chief technical officer of Base4 Bioinformatics, a firm focused on the application of information technologies to the acceleration of the drug discovery process.
Previously, from 1989 to 1996, Dr. Hillyard held positions including manager, Research Computing at The Jackson Laboratory, where he established the Laboratory's Research Computing Department and created the first genomic database of the mouse (GBASE). Since that time, GBASE has been used by more than 200 organizations in over 30 countries. In addition, Dr. Hillyard served as a consultant to the USDA's Animal Genome Program (1993 to 1997), directing database development projects for a number of important livestock species.
Dr. Hillyard is currently a committee member of the International Society of Animal Genetics and has previously served on committees with the Human Genome Organisation and the National Research Council. He has authored or co-authored peer-reviewed articles that primarily focus on human and animal genetic mapping and the creation of map databases. Dr. Hillyard received his Ph.D. degree in oceanography from the University of Maine.
Axys Pharmaceuticals is a leader in the integration of life science technologies with a focus on transforming gene discoveries into drugs. Axys is building shareholder value through (1) a broad and diversified pipeline of research and development programs partnered with world-class pharmaceutical companies; (2) expansion of a non-partnered research and development franchise in oncology; and (3) the spin out of affiliated businesses that leverage the company's technologies in order to provide capital for Axys' drug discovery and development programs.
Axys' technology-leveraging businesses are: Axys Advanced Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned combinatorial chemistry oriented company; PPGx, Inc., a majority owned pharmacogenomics company; and Akkadix Corporation (formerly Xyris), a majority owned agricultural biotechnology company.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties which could cause Axys' actual results to differ materially from those discussed here, including the risk that Axys' collaborations will not be successful, the risk of Axys' early stage of development, the risk that Axys will not be successful in entering into new collaborations, competition and marketing risk, the risk of unexpected difficulties and delays in the development of new technologies and in expanding its manufacturing capabilities, the risk that clinical trials will not proceed as anticipated or may not be successful, Axys' reliance on the efforts of its collaborative partners, and general economic conditions that may affect Axys' actual results and developments. Additional factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the sections entitled "What Factors Could Cause Our Results to Differ Significantly from Those You Might Expect?" in the company's SEC Reports, including the company's report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 1998.
Note to Editors: For more information on Axys Pharmaceuticals, Inc., please visit the company's website at axyspharm.com.
CONTACT:
Axys Pharmaceuticals Inc., South San Francisco
John Walker, 650/829-1000 (Chairman and CEO)
Fred Ruegsegger, 650/829-1000 (Senior VP and CEO)
or
Burns McClellan, Inc.
Justin Jackson, 212/213-0006 (media)
John Nugent, 212/213-0006 (investors) |
