ANTHERA PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. APPOINTS DONALD SANTEL TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SAN MATEO, CA - October 30, 2007 - Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing anti-inflammatory drugs for chronic and acute diseases, today announced that Donald J. Santel has been appointed to Anthera’s Board of Directors.
“Don’s experience in transforming early biotech startups into commercial stage organizations will be of benefit as we expand our pipeline and move A-002 into large scale Phase III clinical trials,” said Paul F. Truex, President and Chief Executive Officer of Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “His strategic and operational insights related to the challenges facing development stage companies will be invaluable as Anthera embarks on the next phase of growth.”
“We’re pleased to have an individual of Don’s caliber join our Board of Directors,” said Lowell E. Sears‚ Chairman of Anthera’s Board of Directors. “We look forward to his contributions that will further shape strategic direction and drive future growth.”
Donald J. Santel has 25 years experience in the biotechnology/biopharmaceutical and medical device industries. Most recently, he was Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at CoTherix, Inc., where he launched Ventavis® Inhalation Solution and led the sale of the company to Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. in January 2007. Prior to CoTherix, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Reflow, and sold the company to Fox Hollow (now EV3) and served as Vice President of Marketing and International Sales at Cardiac Pathways Corporation, a medical device company later acquired by Boston Scientific. Mr. Santel began his career at Medtronic, Inc. Mr. Santel also serves on the board of Hyperion Therapeutics. He has a BSE from Purdue University and an MS in from the University of Minnesota.
About Anthera Pharmaceuticals
Anthera Pharmaceuticals is a privately-held company committed to developing and commercializing clinical pharmaceutical products that address unmet medical needs of patients with life-threatening, chronic and acute inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders. The Company has acquired from Eli Lilly and Company and Shionogi & Co.‚ Ltd. worldwide rights (excluding Japan) to a series of clinical and pre-clinical compounds that inhibit the enzymatic activity of members of the phospholipase (PLA2) family - a group of enzymes responsible for the release of arachidonic acid and subsequent production of leukotrienes‚ prostacyclins and other mediators of inflammation. These highly potent compounds inhibit novel‚ upstream steps in the inflammation cascade and have the potential to address a variety of diseases. The company has also acquired exclusive and worldwide rights to a peptide fusion protein, A-623, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases from Amgen. For more information, please visit www.anthera.com
