Cougar Biotechnology Names Richard B. Phillips, Ph.D. Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance
February 14 2007 - 5:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Los Angeles, CA, February 14, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cougar
Biotechnology, Inc. (OTC:CGRB) (BULLETIN BOARD: CGRB) , a
biotechnology company focused on acquiring and developing oncology
drug candidates, today announced the appointment of Richard B.
Phillips, Ph.D., to the position of Vice President of Regulatory
Affairs and Quality Assurance. Dr. Phillips will lead the Company's
interaction and liaison with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), as well as with the European and other regulatory agencies.
He will be responsible for all regulatory communications, filings,
and strategy as well as Cougar's compliance with Good Clinical,
Good Laboratory and Good Manufacturing Practices. Dr. Phillips
brings to Cougar over 20 years of regulatory affairs and quality
assurance experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology
industries. From 2005 until joining Cougar, Dr. Phillips was
employed by Amgen Inc., where he was the Director of Regulatory
Affairs and Global Regulatory Leader for Vectibix(TM)
(panitumumab), which received FDA approval last year for the
treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Prior to Amgen, Dr.
Phillips served as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality
Assurance at Chugai Pharma USA from 2002 to 2004, where he was
responsible for eight development programs in five therapeutic
areas, including oncology. He has also held regulatory affairs
management positions with Pfizer Inc. (Parke- Davis), Johnson &
Johnson (Janssen, L.P.), Sandoz (Novartis AG) and Structural
GenomiX. Dr. Phillips earned a Ph.D. in chemistry from the
University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. in chemistry from
the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Arie S. Belldegrun, MD,
FACS, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cougar
Biotechnology, said, "Richard brings to Cougar a rich background in
regulatory affairs and quality assurance, which is becoming an
increasingly important focus for the Company as Cougar's drugs
progress through clinical development. We are pleased to have
someone of Richard's caliber join the senior management of the
Company." Alan H. Auerbach, Chief Executive Officer and President
of Cougar Biotechnology, added, "Defining the specific regulatory
strategy for each of Cougar's drugs in development has clearly
become a focal point for the Company, most notably as our lead
compound CB7630, abiraterone acetate, progresses through clinical
development. Richard's strong regulatory affairs background and
outstanding leadership abilities will be a great asset to Cougar
and we look forward to the contributions that he will make to the
senior management of the Company." About Cougar Biotechnology
Cougar Biotechnology, Inc. is a Los Angeles-based biotechnology
company established to in-license and develop clinical stage drugs,
with a specific focus on the field of oncology. Cougar's oncology
portfolio includes CB7630, a targeted inhibitor of the 17-alpha
hydroxylase/c17,20 lyase enzyme, which is currently being tested in
Phase II clinical trials in prostate cancer; CB3304, an inhibitor
of microtubule dynamics, which is currently in a Phase I trial in
hematological malignancies and CB1089, an analog of vitamin D,
which has been clinically tested in a number of solid tumor types.
Further information about Cougar Biotechnology can be found at
http://www.cougarbiotechnology.com/. This press release contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties
that could cause Cougar's actual results and experiences to differ
materially from the anticipated results and expectations expressed
in these forward-looking statements. These statements are often,
but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as
"anticipates," "expects," "plans," "believes," "intends," and
similar words or phrases. These statements are based on current
expectations, forecasts and assumptions that are subject to risks
and uncertainties, which could cause actual outcomes and results to
differ materially from these statements. Among other things, there
can be no assurances that the development of CB7630 or Cougar's
other product candidates will ever be successfully completed, or
that Cougar will ever receive the regulatory approvals to necessary
to commercialize CB7630 or Cougar's other product candidates. Other
risks that may affect forward-looking information contained in this
press release include the risk that the results of clinical trials
may not support Cougar's claims, Cougar's reliance on third-party
researchers to develop its product candidates, and its lack of
experience in developing and commercializing pharmaceutical
products. Additional risks are described in the company's Current
Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 7, 2006. Cougar assumes no obligation to update
these statements, except as required by law. Contacts: Cougar
Biotechnology, Inc. -- +1 310 943 8040 Alan H. Auerbach, Chief
Executive Officer and President Mariann Ohanesian, Director of
Investor Relations Noonan Russo David Schull, +1 212 845 4271
Andreas Marathovouniotis, +1 212 845 4253 DATASOURCE: Cougar
Biotechnology, Inc. CONTACT: Alan H. Auerbach, Chief Executive
Officer and President, , or Mariann Ohanesian, Director of Investor
Relations, , both of Cougar Biotechnology, Inc., +1-310-943-8040;
David Schull, +1-212-845-4271, , or Andreas Marathovouniotis,
+1-212-845-4253, , both of Noonan Russo for Cougar Biotechnology,
Inc. Web site: http://www.cougarbiotechnology.com/
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