AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (Euronext: AMT), a leader in the field of human gene therapy, today announced that AMT's Supervisory Board has decided to propose Dr. George Morstyn to be appointed to the Supervisory Board at its Annual General Meeting of shareholders on April 16, 2008. Dr. Morstyn (MB BS PhD FRACP), who retired as Senior Vice President of Development at Amgen, was a member of Amgen's executive committee and responsible for global preclinical and clinical development as well as regulatory affairs.
Dr. Morstyn also played an active role in representing Amgen to the financial community. Five new drugs and many label extensions were approved during his 11 year tenure. Dr. Morstyn graduated from Monash University, completed a Ph.D. with Professor Donald Metcalf at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and trained in medical oncology at the National Cancer Institute in the US. He was Head of the Clinical Program of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research in Melbourne for eight years. Dr. Morstyn was an early clinical investigator of several biological agents prior to joining Amgen, and performed seminal work on the development of G-CSF, which later became Neupogen, Amgen's second blockbuster drug. Dr. Morstyn is currently a board member of several Australian biotechnology companies.
Further to a plan of rotation, AMT aims to build a fully independent Supervisory Board in the course of 2008. Earlier this year, AMT announced the nominations of Alexander Ribbink, COO of TomTom, and Philippe van Holle, Head of Celgene Europe, to its Supervisory Board.
AMT's AGM is scheduled for April 16, 10:30 a.m., and will take place at the Rosarium, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
About Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics
AMT has a unique gene therapy platform that to date appears to circumvent many if not all of the obstacles that have prevented gene therapy from becoming a mainstay of clinical medicine. Using adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors as the delivery vehicle of choice for therapeutic genes, the company has been able to design and validate what is probably the first stable and scalable AAV production platform. As such, AMT's proprietary platform holds tremendous promise for thousands of rare (orphan) diseases that are caused by one faulty gene. AMT currently has a product pipeline with six products at different stages of development.
Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" including those that refer to management's plans and expectations for future operations, prospects and financial condition. Words such as "strategy," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "will," "continues," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets" and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the current expectations of the management of Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics only. Undue reliance should not be placed on these statements because, by their nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and can be affected by factors that are beyond the control of AMT. Actual results could differ materially from current expectations due to a number of factors and uncertainties affecting AMT's business, including, but not limited to, the timely commencement and success of AMT's clinical trials and research endeavors, delays in receiving U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other regulatory approvals (i.e. EMEA, Health Canada), market acceptance of AMT's products, effectiveness of AMT's marketing and sales efforts, development of competing therapies and/or technologies, the terms of any future strategic alliances, the need for additional capital, the inability to obtain, or meet, conditions imposed for required governmental and regulatory approvals and consents. AMT expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law. For a more detailed description of the risk factors and uncertainties affecting AMT, refer to the prospectus of AMT's initial public offering on June 20, 2007, and AMT's public announcements made from time to time.
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For information: André Verwei, CFO, +31-20-566-5686, a.verwei@amtbiopharma.com; Rob T.A. Janssen, Director Corporate Communication and Investor Relations, +31-20-566-7509, r.janssen@amtbiopharma.com
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