– Company Expands Leadership to Keep Pace with
Advancing Pivotal Clinical Programs –
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2018--
Omeros Corporation (Nasdaq: OMER) today announced that Eckhard Leifke,
M.D. has been named Omeros’ Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of
Clinical Development. In this role, Dr. Leifke will oversee clinical
science & operations, medical affairs and pharmacovigilance. He assumes
these corporate responsibilities from J. Steven Whitaker, M.D., J.D.,
Vice President of Clinical Development, who will now focus primarily on
driving the clinical aspects of Omeros’ MASP-2 antibody – OMS721 –
toward U.S. and international regulatory approvals in hematopoietic stem
cell transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (HSCT-TMA).
“I am excited to join Omeros’ leadership team,” said Dr. Leifke. “I am
impressed by the quality of Omeros’ pipeline and by the sense of urgency
within the company to advance these programs to improve the lives of
patients. With input from thought leaders and their patients who are
affected by the serious conditions for which Omeros is developing novel
therapeutics, my top priority is to continue accelerating the company’s
clinical programs toward successful commercialization.”
Dr. Leifke brings to Omeros more than 20 years of drug development
experience, having built and headed global teams at leading
pharmaceutical companies including Bayer, Takeda and, most recently,
Sanofi where he was Global Project Head/Vice President of Early Project
& External Opportunities - Cardiovascular and Metabolism and Global
Head/Vice President of Late-Stage Development Diabetes. He has led the
global development of multiple early- and late-stage small-molecule and
biologic drug candidates to successful market authorizations in the USA,
Europe, Japan and other countries.
“We’re pleased to welcome Eckhard to our senior leadership team, and I
expect that his proven track record and thoughtful approach to strategic
drug development globally will be valuable assets for Omeros,” said
Gregory A. Demopulos, M.D., chairman and chief executive officer of
Omeros. “This important and timely expansion of our clinical team
underscores Omeros’ progress and our longstanding commitment to
providing cutting-edge therapeutics to patients with disabling and
life-threatening disorders. I’d like to recognize Steve Whitaker for his
ongoing exemplification of that same commitment, and I look forward to
his leading OMS721 to a successful outcome in stem-cell TMA, currently
one of Omeros’ highest priorities.”
Dr. Leifke holds a Medical Doctorate from the University of Freiburg,
Germany, and is Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology.
About Omeros Corporation
Omeros is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to
discovering, developing and commercializing small-molecule and protein
therapeutics for large-market as well as orphan indications targeting
inflammation, complement-mediated diseases and disorders of the central
nervous system. The company’s drug product OMIDRIA®
(phenylephrine and ketorolac intraocular solution) 1% / 0.3% is marketed
for use during cataract surgery or intraocular lens (IOL) replacement to
maintain pupil size by preventing intraoperative miosis (pupil
constriction) and to reduce postoperative ocular pain. In the European
Union, the European Commission has approved OMIDRIA for use in cataract
surgery and other IOL replacement procedures to maintain mydriasis
(pupil dilation), prevent miosis (pupil constriction), and to reduce
postoperative eye pain. Omeros has multiple Phase 3 and Phase 2
clinical-stage development programs focused on: complement-associated
thrombotic microangiopathies; complement-mediated
glomerulonephropathies; cognitive impairment; and addictive and
compulsive disorders. In addition, Omeros has a diverse group of
preclinical programs and a proprietary G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)
platform through which it controls 54 new GPCR drug targets and
corresponding compounds, a number of which are in preclinical
development. The company also exclusively possesses a novel
antibody-generating platform.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are subject to the “safe
harbor” created by those sections for such statements. All statements
other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements,
which are often indicated by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,”
“could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “likely”, “look forward
to,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “prospects,”
“should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions and variations
thereof. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs
and assumptions and on information available to management only as of
the date of this press release. Omeros’ actual results could differ
materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements
for many reasons, including, without limitation, risks associated with
product commercialization and commercial operations, unproven
preclinical and clinical development activities, regulatory oversight,
intellectual property claims, competitive developments, litigation, and
the risks, uncertainties and other factors described under the heading
“Risk Factors” in the company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2018. Given these
risks, uncertainties and other factors, you should not place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, and the company assumes no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new
information becomes available in the future.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180802005291/en/
Source: Omeros Corporation
Cook Williams Communications, Inc.
Jennifer Cook Williams
Investor
and Media Relations
360-668-3701
jennifer@cwcomm.org
