AMICUS THERAPEUTICS APPOINTS PHARMACEUTICAL VETERAN DONALD HAYDEN, JR. EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Cranbury, NJ, March 31, 2006 - Amicus Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company developing small molecule, orally-delivered pharmacological chaperones for the treatment of human genetic diseases, today announced the appointment of Donald J. Hayden, Jr. as executive chairman of the company's Board of Directors. Mr. Hayden brings to Amicus the experience, insight and perspective gained during a highly-successful 25 year career in pharmaceuticals and related health care businesses with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, including 15 years in senior executive positions. Mr. Hayden has a proven track record of innovative strategy development, growing successful products and businesses and building exceptional leadership teams.
"Don brings an impressive pharmaceutical background to Amicus, and as executive chairman he will use his considerable industry experience to help Amicus grow, develop and commercialize our paradigm-shifting pharmacological chaperones," said John F. Crowley, Amicus president and CEO. "Don and I have a long-standing relationship from my own days at BMS, and I am very pleased personally and on behalf of the company that we will be working together again."
Mr. Hayden began his career as a business intern with Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1981. His early career experiences included serving as director of new business development and planning for the U.S. Pharmaceutical Group, as director of marketing for Mead Johnson Pharmaceuticals and as a district sales manager within the BMS oncology division. Since 1991 Mr. Hayden has held a number of senior management positions including vice president and general manager of Mead Johnson Laboratories; president of Oncology and Immunology; senior vice president for Worldwide Franchise Management and Business Development; president of Intercontinental and senior vice president, Business Development, Pharmaceuticals; president of Worldwide Medicines; executive vice president of Strategy, e-business, Investor Relations and Competitive Intelligence; and executive vice president of the Health Care Group. For the past four years, Mr. Hayden served as executive vice president and president, Americas, overseeing two major pharmaceutical units and two healthcare businesses with combined annual sales in excess of $10 billion as well as global pharmaceutical manufacturing. Mr. Hayden received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and has an M.B.A. from Indiana University.
"Amicus has a truly novel approach to treating genetic disorders supported by early clinical and preclinical data, and I look forward to helping the company bring important new therapeutics to the market and to the patients who need them," said Mr. Hayden. "I am particularly pleased to have the chance to apply my pharmaceutical experience to the opportunities and challenges of growing Amicus into one of the world's leading biotechnology companies."
Added Alex Barkas, Ph.D., Amicus board member and managing director, Prospect Venture Partners, "This is an exciting time for Amicus as we continue to advance our work in the clinic and expand our pipeline. Don will be an invaluable asset through his expert advice and guidance as we chart the company's course for the future."
Amicus develops pharmacological chaperones, a next-generation approach that offers the potential to dramatically improve treatment options for patients with a wide range of genetic disorders. Pharmacological chaperones are orally-delivered small molecules that selectively bind to misfolded proteins to restore shape, proper trafficking and biological function. Amicus' lead compound Amigal (migalastat hydrochloride) is in Phase ll clinical trials for Fabry disease, and AT2101, with orphan drug designation for treating Gaucher disease, is expected to enter clinical studies in the first half of this year.