NEW HAVEN, Conn., Feb. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACHN), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming the lives of patients and families affected by complement-mediated diseases, today announced the appointment of Brian Di Donato to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Di Donato has over 20 years of financial and leadership experience and will assume responsibility for finance, accounting and treasury as well as continue to lead investor relations.
“Brian joined the Achillion team in August 2018 and has already made significant contributions alongside the new management team as we accelerate our clinical programs and prepare for registrational trials,” commented Joseph Truitt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Achillion. “His significant finance, investing and leadership experience will greatly benefit Achillion as we plan for late-stage development, commercialization and new indications.”
Mr. Di Donato stated, “Achillion’s portfolio of oral, small molecule complement inhibitors, is uniquely positioned to potentially make a difference in the lives of patients with complement-mediated diseases. I look forward to working closely with our experienced leadership team to develop strategies leveraging our strong cash position into near- and long-term clinical and commercial opportunities to create value for patients and Achillion shareholders.”
Mr. Di Donato is an experienced capital markets banker, investor and fund manager, having previously held positions as Managing Director and Co-Portfolio Manager at Sorin Capital Management and President and Chief Investment Officer at Capmark Investments. He previously worked in fixed-income capital markets as an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley and Vice President at UBS Securities. Mr. Di Donato holds a Master of Business Administration from New York University’s Stern School of Business as well as bachelors of science degrees in biology from Penn State University and in mechanical engineering from Villanova University. Prior to business school, he was an aerospace engineering officer in the U.S. Navy.
About Achillion Pharmaceuticals Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACHN ) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on advancing its oral, small molecule, complement system inhibitors into late-stage development and commercialization. Each of the drug candidates in the Company’s portfolio was discovered in its laboratories and is wholly owned. Achillion is initially focusing its drug development activities on alternative pathway-mediated diseases where there are no approved therapies or where existing therapies are inadequate for patients. Initial indications being evaluated for its compounds include paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), C3 glomerulopathy (C3G), and immune complex mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN). To advance its investigational drugs into phase 3 and commercialization, the Company plans to work closely with key stakeholders including patients, payors, regulators and healthcare professionals. More information is available at http://www.achillion.com .
Investors Brian Di Donato Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Tel. (215) 709-3032 bdidonato@achillion.com
Media: Jon Pappas Media Relations W2O Group Tel. (646) 847-0303 jpappas@w2ogroup.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Achillion may use words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “target,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “can,” “could” “focus,” “will,” “look forward,” “continue,” “goal,” “strategy,” “objective,” “may,” “potential,” and similar expressions to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements also include statements about: the potential benefits of factor D inhibition as a treatment for complement-mediated diseases; the potential benefits of, and indications for, Achillion’s compounds that inhibit factor D, including ACH-4471, ACH-5228 and ACH-5548; Achillion’s belief that its portfolio of compounds could expand factor D portfolio opportunities, provide strategic optionality or create significant value; Achillion’s expectations regarding the advancement of, and timeline for reporting results from, clinical trials of its product candidates as well as its ability to advance additional compounds; and other statements concerning Achillion’s strategic goals, efforts, plans, and prospects. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are risks relating to, among other things, Achillion’s ability to: demonstrate in any current and future clinical trials the requisite safety, efficacy and combinability of its product candidates; advance the preclinical and clinical development of its complement factor D inhibitors under the timelines it projects in current and future preclinical studies and clinical trials; enroll patients in its clinical trials on its projected timelines; obtain and maintain patent protection for its product candidates and the freedom to operate under third party intellectual property; obtain and maintain necessary regulatory approvals, and the granting of orphan designation does not alter the standard regulatory requirements and process for obtaining such approval; establish commercial manufacturing arrangements; identify, enter into and maintain collaboration and other commercial agreements with third-parties; compete successfully in the markets in which it seeks to develop and commercialize its product candidates and future products; manage expenses; manage litigation; raise the substantial additional capital needed to achieve its business objectives; and successfully execute on its business strategies. These and other risks are described in the reports filed by Achillion with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2018, and any other SEC filings that Achillion makes from time to time.
In addition, any forward-looking statement in this press release represents Achillion's views only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. Achillion disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.
Source: Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
