Full Press Release Details
Anavex Announces Appointment of
Oncology Specialist to Board of Directors, Changes to Executive
Wednesday May 21, 12:53 am ET
ATHENS, Greece, May 21, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Anavex Life
Sciences Corp. (``ANAVEX'') (OTC BB:AVXL.OB - News) today announced the
appointment of Alison Ayers to its Board of Directors. Ms. Ayers is currently
the Worldwide Commercial Head for Oncology at Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - News), with
responsibility for Pfizer's oncology portfolio, which includes more than 20 drug
candidates in clinical development, as well as lifecycle optimization for their
leading oncology treatments including Sutent. In addition, she is a member of
the leadership team that develops Pfizer's oncology strategic plan and which
manages the portfolio, including asset prioritization, development planning,
strategic and investment decisions including licensing and acquisitions. She is
also responsible for the commercial strategy for Pfizer's oncology department,
which had sales of over $2 billion in 2007.
``It is our great pleasure to welcome Alison to our Board,''
said Harvey Lalach, President of ANAVEX. ``Alison is a senior executive with
strong leadership, operational, deal-making and portfolio-planning abilities.
She has developed broad business skills with international pharmaceutical
companies of all sizes, from start-ups to several of the world's top
corporations, and has extensive experience guiding R&D prioritization and
investment decisions to optimize the commercial value of early and late-stage
drug candidates. In addition, Alison has more than 20 years of oncology-focused
pharmaceutical industry experience. We are confident that her background will
add considerable value as we continue to develop our already impressive oncology
and CNS pipelines.''
Ms. Ayers has an extensive background in business development
and commercial initiatives. In her current role she leads Pfizer's commercial
leadership team for oncology, which develops and implements globally aligned
marketing strategies with major emphasis on resource allocation, pre-launch
planning for new indications and new product launches. She is also the
commercial lead for Pfizer's licensing strategy and evaluation of licensing and
acquisition opportunities.
Previously, Ms. Ayers was Commercial Head, Infectious Disease,
Worldwide Marketing for Pfizer, responsible for strategic leadership for the
company's infectious disease portfolio. Under her leadership, Pfizer's
infectious disease portfolio exceeded $3 billion in sales in 2005, with two
compounds achieving sales growth of 20-30%.
Before joining Pfizer Ms. Ayers was Vice President of Portfolio
Management for Pharmacia, where she developed and implemented strategies to
maximize earnings from the company's complex global $2.5 billion diversified
products portfolio, which is comprised of more than 600 mature, non-promoted
products. In her earlier role as Vice President, Commercial Development,
Oncology for Pharmacia, Ms. Ayers was responsible for providing commercial
leadership for the company's oncology pipeline, and held a pivotal role in the
acquisition of biotech company Sugen, which delivered Pfizer's leading
angiogenesis inhibitor, Sutent. Pharmacia was acquired by Pfizer in 2003.
Ms. Ayers' background also includes senior positions in
business and product planning for numerous bioscience and pharmaceutical
companies, including Merck, The Health Care Group, US Bioscience, Bristol-Myers
Squibb and Lederle Laboratories. She holds a Master of Science with distinction
in biopharmacy and a Diploma in Business Studies, both from the University of
London, UK, as well as a Bachelor of Science with honors in physiology and
biochemistry from the University of Southampton, UK.
Appoints Scientific Advisory Board Chairman
ANAVEX is also pleased to announce the appointment of Dr.
Alexandre Vamvakides as Chairman of the company's Scientific Advisory Board. Dr.
Vamvakides is the scientific founder of and Chief Scientific Officer for ANAVEX.
He has spent 30 years in research, specializing in the therapeutic and
pharmacological areas of nootropes, anti-neurodegenerative (anti-Alzheimer's),
anti-epileptic, anti-depressive and prototype molecules.
The author of more than 80 published scientific papers, Dr.
Vamvakides has worked at the Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche
Medicale in Paris, France, University of Athens (Greece), Ciba-Geigy (Basel,
Switzerland), Sanofi (Montpellier, France) and many other European research labs
focusing on the discovery and development of new concepts in the therapeutic
areas of CNS, oncology and anti-inflammatory diseases.
As a result of this appointment, Dr. Vamvakides has resigned
his position as a director of ANAVEX.
ANAVEX would like to thank outgoing CEO and Director Dr. Panos
Kontzalis, who tendered his resignation for personal reasons effective May 16,
2008, for his contributions to the company.
About Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (http://www.anavex.com) is an
emerging biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of
novel drug targets for the treatment of cancer and neurological diseases. The
company's proprietary SIGMACEPTOR(tm) Discovery Platform involves the rational
drug design of compounds that fulfill specific criteria based on unmet market
needs and new scientific advances. Selected drug candidates demonstrate high,
non-exclusive affinity for sigma receptors, which are involved in the modulation
of multiple cellular biochemical signaling pathways.
ANAVEX's SIGMACEPTOR(tm)-N program involves the development of
novel and original drug candidates, targeting neurological and neurodegenerative
diseases (including Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, depression). The company's
lead drug candidates exhibit high affinity for sigma receptors and synergy with
other receptors and ion channels with strong evidence for anti-amnesic,
neuroprotective, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory,
anti-convulsive, anti-depressant and anxiolytic properties.
ANAVEX's SIGMACEPTOR(tm)-C program involves the development of
novel and original drug candidates targeting cancer. The company's lead drug
candidates exhibit high affinity for sigma receptors and synergy with ion
channels with strong evidence for selective pro-apoptotic, anti-metastatic and
low toxicity properties in various types of solid cancers such as colon,
prostate, breast and melanoma.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly
historical in nature are forward-looking statements. These statements are only
predictions based on current information and expectations and involve a number
of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from
those projected in any of such statements due to various factors, including the