VIVUS Appoints Vice President of Research and Development
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--Sept. 28, 2000--VIVUS, Inc. (NASDAQ:VVUS) today announced the appointment of John W. Dietrich, Ph.D. to the position of Vice President of Research and Development.
Dr. Dietrich brings 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry to VIVUS. During his career he has coordinated and directed the discovery and development efforts on a variety of drug candidates.
Prior to joining VIVUS, Dr. Dietrich was Vice President of
Research and Development at Cellegy Pharmaceuticals. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of Research and Development at Allelix Biopharmaceuticals and as Vice President of Research at Chemex Pharmaceuticals. Early in his career, Dr. Dietrich held the position of Director of Endocrinology at Revlon Health Care.
"John's demonstrated ability to manage valuable, new drug development programs and his proven leadership in moving product candidates through the various stages of the development process will enable us to more aggressively pursue our R&D goals," said Leland F. Wilson, President and CEO of VIVUS, Inc. "His experience and skill level complement our current senior management team and are a welcome asset to the Company."
"My enthusiasm for joining VIVUS lies in the future potential of its R&D pipeline. VIVUS is clearly a leader in the development of products for the treatment of sexual dysfunction in both men and women," said Dr. Dietrich. "VIVUS was a pioneer in the treatment of male erectile dysfunction (ED) with the development of MUSE(R) (alprostadil) and ACTIS(R), a venous flow controller, and is a leader in the development of products for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction (FSD)."
VIVUS continues to be a leader in the ED area with a
second-generation product, ALIBRA(R), currently under FDA review for marketing clearance. The Company's third-generation ED product is a combination of alprostadil and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor (PDE) for local application. With VIVUS' patent position and the potency seen in initial studies, this combination product holds the promise of being a major advancement in the treatment of ED.
The Company has a dominant proprietary position in FSD for the local delivery of prostaglandins, such as alprostadil, with two issued and several pending patents. Local delivery is important, and potentially superior to oral delivery, because it delivers high concentrations of active agent to the site of action while reducing exposure to the rest of the body, thereby limiting potential side effects.
VIVUS recently announced the filing of an IND application with the FDA to begin human testing of its product ALISTA (TM) for the treatment of female sexual arousal disorder, a subcategory of FSD. The Company expects to initiate clinical testing of ALISTA early in the fourth quarter pending FDA approval. The potential market for FSD products is large, with an estimated 40% of women reporting some form of sexual dysfunction.
"This is an exciting time for VIVUS, with a robust R&D pipeline containing a female sexual dysfunction product, a premature ejaculation product, and a third-generation erectile dysfunction product," added Dr. Dietrich. "Clearly, we are poised for growth as we move these, and other programs, into and through the development pipeline."
Dr. Dietrich possess a BS in Biology from LeMoyne College, an MS in Physiology from the University of Dayton, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He was a NIH Postdoctoral Fellow in Endocrinology at the University of Connecticut.
VIVUS, Inc. is a leader in the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of sexual dysfunction and urologic disorders in men and women. The Company developed and manufactures the product MUSE(R) (alprostadil) and the medical device ACTIS(R), two innovations in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence. The Company has filed for regulatory approval with the FDA and the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) for ALIBRA(R), its second-generation drug for the treatment of ED, and expects marketing clearance between late 2000 and mid 2001. The Company anticipates initiating clinical studies for its FSD product, ALISTA(TM), during the fourth quarter of 2000. Currently VIVUS markets MUSE in the United States, and has partnered with Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) for the international marketing and distribution of its male ED products. VIVUS has additional research and development programs in premature ejaculation and ED. Note to editors and investors: Additional written materials, recent releases and Company information are available through a variety of sources, including the VIVUS home page (www.vivus.com) and the VIVUS Fax-On-Demand Service (1-888-329-5719).
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties regarding VIVUS Inc.'s operations and future results. Please see the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, the Company's Form 10-Ks and Form 10-Qs, which identify specific factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: VIVUS, Inc.
Barbara Clark, 650/934-5200
ir@vivus.com
www.vivus.com
or
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Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.
Bruce Voss (bruce@lhai.com)
Bonnie Feldman (bonnie@lhai.com)
310/575-4848
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212/838-3777
www.lhai.com
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