City of Industry, CA, Aug. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Marina Biotech, Inc. (OTCQB: MRNA), a commercial stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for hypertension, arthritis, pain and oncology, today announced that the company has appointed Jay D. Schwartz to serve as Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations.

Mr. Schwartz is a successful pharmaceutical industry executive, serving in many different commercial capacities over his career. Mr. Schwartz served as Vice President, Client Engagement Head for the Integrated Engagement Services division of IQVIA from January 2015 to August 2018. He has supported many pharmaceutical companies with commercial services in support of new product introductions and furthering the commercial strength of their current portfolios.

"Marina is at an inflection point and the company is very excited for Jay to join the leadership team,” said Robert C. Moscato, Jr., the Chief Executive Officer of the company. “Two of our critical success factors are: Demonstrate Commercial Excellence and Enhance Process and People. I believe Jay’s commercial prowess and proven track record will accelerate the pace at which Marina is growing. He will add additional discipline and process to our commercial organization.”

“Marina’s ethos is built on trust, a sense of urgency and respect for patients, ourselves, our colleagues and our customers. Jay’s core values are consistent with Marina’s ethos,” said Erik Emerson, the Chief Commercial Officer of the company. “The company is growing its commercial platform and infrastructure; and launching its first commercial product – PRESTALIA. The addition of Jay will help bolster the strength of Marina.”

Prior to IQVIA, Mr. Schwartz was with GlaxoSmithKline for over 25 years leading sales and marketing strategies for many key GSK brands. As Vice President, Respiratory Sales Mr. Schwartz was a key contributor to the commercial success of ADVAIR and the GSK Respiratory portfolio including the recent launches of BREO, ANORO and NUCALA. Mr. Schwartz earned a B.S. in Pharmacy from St. John’s University and a M.S. in Pharmaceutical Marketing from Long Island University, The Arnold & Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy. He has also earned a M.B.A. from Duke University, The Fuqua School of Business.

About Marina Biotech

Our mission is to provide effective and patient centric treatment for hypertension, including resistant hypertension, by creating a platform for the effective treatment of hypertension as well as for the distribution of fixed dose combination hypertensive drugs such as Prestalia and other drugs in our pipeline.  The Company’s commercial product, Prestalia, is approved by US FDA for the treatment of hypertension and is being commercialized through the Company’s proprietary DyrctAxess platform. The Company is also developing and commercializing late stage, non-addictive pain therapeutics. The Company’s ‘next-generation of celecoxib,’ including IT-102 and IT-103, are designed to control the dangerous side-effect of edema that prohibits the celecoxib from being prescribed at higher doses. The Company further believes that the current opioid addiction epidemic in the U.S. has been driven in part by the withdrawal from the market of certain COX-2 inhibitors due to their associated risk of cardiovascular-related adverse events, and the Company hopes to be a mitigant to that epidemic. Additional information about Marina Biotech is available at  http://www.marinabio.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this news release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Federal Securities laws that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) the ability of Marina Biotech to obtain funding to support its clinical development and commercialization activities; (ii) the ability of Marina Biotech to attract and/or maintain manufacturing, research, development and commercialization partners; (iii) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to successfully complete product research and development, including preclinical and clinical studies and commercialization; (iv) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to obtain required governmental approvals; and (v) the ability of Marina Biotech and/or a partner to develop and commercialize products prior to, and that can compete favorably with those of, competitors. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in Marina Biotech’s most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 that was filed on April 17, 2018. Marina Biotech assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements because of subsequent events.

PR and Investor Contact: Robert Moscato, Jr. Email:rmoscato@marinabio.com