NEW YORK, Oct. 2, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: KERX ), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of medically important pharmaceutical products for the treatment of renal disease (the "Company"), today announced the appointment of Douglass H. Laidlaw, Ph.D. to the newly created position of Director, Medical Affairs, with oversight of the creation and activities of the Company's Medical Science Liaisons (MSL) team.
Dr. Laidlaw joins the Company from Genzyme/Sanofi (NYSE: SNY ), where since 2007 he has worked in the Medical Affairs division, most recently serving as National Director, Medical Science Liaisons (MSL) of the Renal Division. During his tenure at Genzyme/Sanofi, Dr. Laidlaw was well recognized for the strategic development and implementation of many key projects contributing to the success of the Renal business unit, notably initiatives surrounding prelaunch activities and generating scientific support aimed at increasing awareness of acute and chronic kidney disease and its sequelae. Dr. Laidlaw has extensive experience recruiting, managing and leading field based teams of MSLs.
Ron Bentsur, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are excited to be welcoming Dr. Laidlaw to the Company. Dr. Laidlaw brings a proven track record of success in the development and leadership of a dedicated renal MSL team, strategic planning capabilities and a vast network of relationships within the nephrology community. I am confident that he will be an extraordinary asset as we build out our marketing organization."
Dr. Laidlaw earned his Ph.D. in Physiological Sciences from the University of Arizona. His academic research career included positions in Biomedical Engineering at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation and in the Department of Integrative Physiology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Previous to his employment with Genzyme, from 2006-2007, he held the position of Associate Director Medical Affairs, Medical and Education Liaisons with Neurocrine Biosciences and was a core member of the team responsible for creating their Medical Affairs infrastructure. Prior to that time, from 2003-2006, he was a Senior Medical Science Liaison at Serono. He began his career in the biopharmaceutical industry as a Regional Medical Liaison with Organon.
About Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Keryx Biopharmaceuticals is focused on the acquisition, development and commercialization of medically important pharmaceutical products for the treatment of renal disease. Keryx is developing Zerenex (ferric citrate coordination complex), an oral, ferric iron-based compound that has the capacity to bind to phosphate and form non-absorbable complexes. Keryx has completed a U.S.-based Phase 3 clinical program for Zerenex for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia (elevated phosphate levels) in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis, conducted pursuant to a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Company has submitted a New Drug Application to the FDA. The Marketing Authorization Application filing with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is pending submission. Zerenex is also in Phase 2 development in the U.S. for the management of phosphorus and iron deficiency in anemic patients with Stages 3 to 5 non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease. In addition, Keryx's Japanese partner, Japan Tobacco Inc. and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has filed its New Drug Application for marketing approval of ferric citrate in Japan for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. Keryx is headquartered in New York City.
Cautionary Statement
Some of the statements included in this press release, particularly those relating to the commercial opportunity, competitive positioning, and business prospects for Zerenex, may be forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Among the factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially are the following: the risk that the NDA and MAA will not be accepted for review by the FDA and EMA, respectively, due to deficiencies in the application or for other reasons; the risk that the FDA and EMA ultimately deny approval of the NDA and MAA, respectively; the risk that SPAs are not a guarantee that the FDA will accept an NDA for filing or ultimately approve a product candidate following submission; whether the FDA and EMA will concur with our interpretation of our Phase 3 study results or the conduct of the study; whether Zerenex, if approved, will be successfully launched and marketed; and other risk factors identified from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. This press release and prior releases are available at http://www.keryx.com . The information found on our website is not incorporated by reference into this press release and is included for reference purposes only.
Lauren Fischer Director - Investor Relations Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. Tel: 212.531.5965 E-mail:
