MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., May 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that Anthony Clarke, PhD, has joined the company as Vice President, International Development Operations. He will have primary responsibilities in the development and execution of clinical and regulatory program operations in international territories for Alexza's product candidates. Dr. Clarke was most recently Vice President, Clinical Development for Amarin Corporation, based in the United Kingdom.
Prior to Amarin, Dr. Clarke held positions as Director, Clinical Development and Independent Consultant for Curidium Medica plc from 2004 to 2005; Senior Director, Worldwide Pain Management/ Clinical & Regulatory Affairs for Cephalon, Inc. from 2000-2004; Senior Director, Medical and Regulatory Affairs Director for Anesta UK Ltd. from 1999-2000; Worldwide Clinical Operations Manager for Scherer DDS (a division of RP Scherer) from 1994 to 1999; and various European clinical research positions with Beecham and SmithKline Beecham and GH Besselaar from 1983-1994. Dr. Clarke holds a Bachelors of Science in Pharmacology from University of Sunderland and a PhD in Psychopharmacology from University of London. He also is the author of a number of publications and holds several patents.
"We are very pleased to welcome Tony to Alexza, as a member of our management team and our first UK-based employee," said Thomas B. King, President and CEO. "His broad experience in international clinical and regulatory development will be of great value as Alexza develops its clinical portfolio for regulatory authorities, potential development partners and markets outside the United States."
Alexza Pharmaceuticals is an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel, proprietary products for the treatment of acute and intermittent conditions. The Company's technology, the Staccato(R) system, vaporizes unformulated drug to form a condensation aerosol that allows rapid systemic drug delivery through deep lung inhalation. The drug is quickly absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream, providing speed of therapeutic onset that is comparable to intravenous administration, but with greater ease, patient comfort and convenience.
Alexza has six product candidates in clinical development. Alexza's lead program, AZ-004 (Staccato loxapine) for the treatment of acute agitation in schizophrenic or bipolar disorder patients, is in Phase 3 testing. AZ-001 (Staccato prochlorperazine) for the acute treatment of migraine headaches has completed Phase 2 testing. AZ-104 (Staccato loxapine) for the acute treatment of migraine headaches and AZ-002 (Staccato alprazolam) for the acute treatment of panic attacks associated with panic disorder are in Phase 2 testing. Product candidates in Phase 1 testing include AZ-003 (Staccato fentanyl) for the treatment of breakthrough pain, which is partnered with Endo Pharmaceuticals in North America, and AZ-007 (Staccato zaleplon) for the treatment of insomnia. More information, including this and past press releases from Alexza is available online at http://www.alexza.com/.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release includes forward-looking statements regarding the development of the Company's product candidates, projected clinical trial enrollment and data reporting timelines, and safety of the Company's products and technologies. Any statement describing a product candidate or Alexza's goals, expectations or beliefs is a forward-looking statement, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, particularly those inherent in the process of developing and commercializing drugs. The Company's forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they prove incorrect, would cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Alexza's business are described in additional detail in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the Company's other Periodic and Current Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
