Syndax Adds Global Pharmaceutical Business Veteran

WALTHAM, Mass., Jan. 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Syndax," the “Company” or "we") (Nasdaq: SNDX ), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing entinostat and SNDX-6352 in multiple cancer indications, today announced the appointment of Pierre Legault, MBA, CA, CPA to its board of directors.

Mr. Legault has extraordinarily vast executive management experience, including more than 35 years spent executing creative financing strategies, driving corporate development, and constructing value-enhancing transactions for international biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. In addition, Mr. Legault has significant experience serving on the board of directors and audit committees of public companies.

"I am very pleased to welcome Pierre Legault to our board of directors," said Dennis Podlesak, chairman of Syndax. "His broad global experience in drug development and commercialization will be an important asset as we continue the expansion of our late stage clinical pipeline and maximize our business opportunities with entinostat. We look forward to working with Pierre and to him contributing to our future success."

Mr. Legault currently serves on the board of Poxel Pharmaceuticals, Iroko Pharmaceuticals and NephroGenex, and he most recently served as board member, chairman, and audit chair, respectively, as well as on the compensation and other committees, of several leading companies that were successfully acquired, notably, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Forest Laboratories, Eckerd Pharmacy and Tobira Therapeutics. Mr. Legault’s prior executive experience includes serving as Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief Financial Officer of several public companies such as Eckerd Pharmacy, OSI Pharmaceuticals, Prosidion, Ltd, and Rite Aid. He has also held several senior positions with Sanofi-Aventis and predecessor companies, including President of Worldwide Dermatology Operations. He studied at McGill University, University of Montreal (HEC), and Harvard Business School, and holds a Six Sigma Green Belt, a BAA, MBA, CA and CPA diploma.

“I am excited to be joining Syndax as this is a very important time for the Company with significant upcoming clinical milestones in 2017,” said Mr. Legault. “I look forward to working with the Syndax management team and board to help unlock value and successfully execute on the Company’s strategic goals to maximize shareholder value.”

About Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Syndax is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing an innovative pipeline of combination therapies in multiple cancer indications. Our lead product candidate, entinostat, which was granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA following positive results from our Phase 2b clinical trial, ENCORE 301, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 clinical trial for advanced hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative breast cancer. Syndax is developing entinostat, which has direct effects on both cancer cells and immune regulatory cells, and SNDX-6352, an anti-CSF-1R monoclonal antibody, to enhance the body's immune response on tumors that have shown sensitivity to immunotherapy. Entinostat is being evaluated as a combination therapeutic in Phase 1b/2 clinical trials with Merck & Co., Inc. for non-small cell lung cancer and melanoma; with Genentech, Inc. for TNBC; and with Pfizer Inc. and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, for ovarian cancer. SNDX-6352 is being evaluated in a single ascending dose Phase 1 clinical trial and is expected to be developed to treat a variety of cancers. For more information on Syndax, please visit www.syndax.com .

Investor Contact Heather Savelle Argot Partners heather@argotpartners.com Tel 646.395.3734 Media Contact Eliza Schleifstein Argot Partners eliza@argotpartners.com Tel 973.361.1546