REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 17, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Codexis, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDXS ), a leading protein engineering company, announces that Michael Aldridge has joined the company as Senior Vice President, Corporate & Strategic Development. In this new position, Mr. Aldridge will manage all aspects of Codexis’ growth initiatives, including leading the expansion of the global biocatalyst business, striking new CodeEvolver ® platform licensing agreements and building momentum in the Company’s pipeline of therapeutic drug candidates. He will report to John Nicols, President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Michael brings to Codexis more than 25 years of experience in the healthcare and investment banking industries, including more than a decade as a senior pharmaceutical executive,” said Mr. Nicols. “I am confident he will step in and create value seamlessly and rapidly by leveraging his analytical rigor, relevant biopharmaceutical network and engaging relational approach. Michael is extremely well qualified to expand Codexis’ strategic partnerships and lead our business development team globally.”
Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Aldridge said, “I am thrilled to join Codexis and look forward to working closely with the entire management team to accelerate Codexis’ strategic successes leveraging its proven CodeEvolver ® protein engineering platform technology across a host of applications and industries.”
Mr. Aldridge joins Codexis from Sirona Therapeutics Ltd., a privately held company he founded and served as President and Chief Executive Officer since 2015. Previously he was Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategic Development for Questcor Pharmaceuticals, where he negotiated numerous strategic transactions that supported a four-fold increase in market capitalization and the sale of the company to Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals for $5.6 billion. Prior to that, Mr. Aldridge served as Chief Executive Officer for two drug-development companies, including privately held Xenome Limited and publicly traded Peplin, Inc.
Before transitioning to those pharmaceutical industry roles, Mr. Aldridge held multiple investment banking positions, primarily in healthcare, at leading international financial firms including Wilson HTM Investment Group, Bear Stearns and Co., Volpe, Brown, Whelan and Company and SG Warburg Group.
A native of New Zealand, Mr. Aldridge received a Master of Applied Finance from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and a BS with honors in Chemistry from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.
About CodeEvolver ® Protein Engineering Platform Technology
Codexis’ proprietary CodeEvolver ® protein engineering platform enables the rapid development of custom-designed enzymes that are highly optimized for a specific function. The CodeEvolver ® platform is comprised of proprietary methods for the optimization of proteins through the design and generation of diverse genetic libraries, automated screening techniques, algorithms for the interpretation of screening data and predictive modelling. The Codexis CodeEvolver ® platform technology is covered by more than 250 issued patents and pending patent applications worldwide.
About Codexis, Inc.
Codexis, Inc. is a leading protein engineering company that applies its technology to the development of biocatalysts for commercial manufacture of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Codexis’ proven technology enables implementation of biocatalytic solutions to meet customer needs for rapid, cost-effective and sustainable manufacturing. For more information, see www.codexis.com .
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to Codexis’ announcement that Michael Aldridge has joined the company as Senior Vice President, Corporate & Strategic Development and expresses Codexis’ intention to expand its global biocatalyst business, enter into new CodeEvolver ® platform licensing agreements and build momentum in its pipeline of therapeutic drugs. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are, in some cases, beyond Codexis’ control and that could materially affect actual results. Factors that could materially affect actual results include Codexis’ dependence on its licensees and collaborators; Codexis’ dependence on a limited number of products and customers in its pharmaceutical business; potential adverse effects to Codexis’ business if its customers’ pharmaceutical products are not received well in the markets; Codexis’ ability to deploy its technology platform in new market spaces; Codexis’ dependence on key personnel; Codexis’ ability to compete may decline if it loses some of its intellectual property rights; third party claims that Codexis infringes third party intellectual property rights; and Codexis could face increased competition if third parties misappropriate Codexis biocatalysts. Additional factors that could materially affect actual results can be found in Codexis’ Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2016 and in Codexis’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2016, including, in each case, under the caption “Risk Factors.” Codexis expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
Codexis Contacts: Investors LHA Jody Cain, 310-691-7100 jcain@lhai.com
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