Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals Expands Leadership Team with Four New Hires

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (Inspiration), the only biopharmaceutical company focused exclusively on the development and commercialization of new treatment options for people with hemophilia, announced today that the Company has expanded its leadership team with four key hires.  Howard Levy, M.D., Ph.D. has joined Inspiration as Chief Medical Officer; Daniel Regan as Chief Commercial Officer; Nikki Hadas as General Counsel; and Karen Tubridy as Vice President and Factor IX Launch Team Leader.

Dr. Levy has over 22 years' experience in the pharmaceutical and medical industries, most recently serving as Chief Medical Officer at Sangart, Inc.  Prior to Sangart, he was Associate Vice President, Clinical Research, Medical and Regulatory Affairs, at Novo Nordisk and was responsible for a number of clinical research programs, including the hemostasis platform.  Earlier, Dr. Levy was Clinical Research Physician and Medical Director Acute Care in the U.S. Medical Division of Eli Lilly and Company, and Chief of Critical Care Medicine at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.  Dr. Levy received his Ph.D. and MB BCh from University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.  Dr. Levy serves on the Scientific Advisory Boards of ZZ Biotech and Artisan.

Mr. Regan joins Inspiration from Genzyme Corporation where he held positions of increasing responsibility since 1999, most recently serving as General Manager, Senior Vice President of the U.S. Personalized Genetic Health business unit.  At Genzyme, he led multi-functional teams, including sales, marketing and commercialization, across a number of business units, and launched several new products into both large and small markets.  In addition to his domestic experience, Mr. Regan worked extensively in Europe, Latin America, and Asian/Pacific markets.  Prior to Genzyme, he held sales and marketing positions at Janssen Pharmaceutica, a pharmaceutical division of Johnson & Johnson.  Mr. Regan began his career at Whitehall Laboratories.  Mr. Regan received his B.A. from University of Massachusetts.

Ms. Hadas also comes to Inspiration from Genzyme where she spent 10 years, most recently as Senior Corporate Counsel.  Ms. Hadas provided corporate legal support for Genzyme's Personalized Genetic Health, Renal, Endocrine and Cardiovascular business units.  Prior to Genzyme, she was an Associate at Foley Hoag LLP.  At Foley Hoag, Ms. Hadas represented pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies, as well as other healthcare entities.  Earlier, she was a law clerk for Chief Justice David Brock of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.  Ms. Hadas received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from Boston College Law School.

Ms. Tubridy has over 20 years' experience in directing global clinical programs, developing regulatory and clinical strategies, and leading development programs of novel and first in class biologics and monoclonal antibodies, with a particular focus on hematology/oncology.  Ms. Tubridy most recently served as Executive Director, Clinical Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Translational Medicine at Alexion Pharmaceuticals.  She served in this same role at Taligen until its acquisition by Alexion.  Before Taligen, Ms. Tubridy was Senior Director, Clinical Operations at Biogen Idec Hemophilia and Vice President, Clinical Operations of Syntonix Pharmaceuticals.  In these positions, she developed the clinical program strategy and provided operational support for the companies' hemophilia programs.  Ms. Tubridy also held positions at AVANT Immunotherapeutics, Wyeth, Genetics Institute (where she was responsible for the hemophilia global medical affairs programs) and New England Medical Center.  Ms. Tubridy received her B.Sc. and PharmD from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences.

John P. Butler, Chief Executive Officer of Inspiration, commented, "Howard, Dan, Nikki and Karen join Inspiration at a very exciting time in the Company.  As Inspiration advances its lead programs, IB1001 and OBI-1, towards commercialization, we are focused on building a world-class company dedicated to improving the life of individuals with hemophilia.  The new additions bring invaluable and diverse experiences to the Company and will undoubtedly build upon the established strengths and expertise of the leadership team.  We expect our new Boston-area location will continue to attract great talent."

Dr. Levy, Mr. Regan, Ms. Hadas and Ms. Tubridy join Inspiration's executive leadership team which includes John Butler, Mike Griffith, Ph.D. (President and Chief Scientific Officer), Andrew Grethlein, Ph.D. (Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer) and Gordon H. Busenbark (Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer).  Inspiration's team has broad expertise and experience in hemophilia product development, biologics manufacturing and the successful commercialization of products to treat hemophilia as well as chronic orphan diseases.

About Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals

Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals is dedicated exclusively to developing treatments for hemophilia, with a primary mission to broaden access to care to safe and effective recombinant therapies and advance innovation for people living with these conditions.  Inspiration has a broad portfolio of recombinant hemophilia products, which includes two products in late-stage clinical development and two preclinical programs.

Inspiration's lead product candidates are IB1001, an intravenous recombinant factor IX (FIX) product for the treatment and prevention of bleeding in individuals with hemophilia B, and OBI-1, an intravenous recombinant porcine factor VIII (FVIII) product for the treatment of individuals with congenital hemophilia A who have developed inhibitors against human FVIII and for individuals with acquired hemophilia.  Inspiration recently submitted its first marketing application for IB1001 in Europe, with a subsequent regulatory filing planned in the U.S.  Earlier-stage preclinical programs at Inspiration are focused on human recombinant factor VIIa (FVIIa), for individuals with either hemophilia A or hemophilia B who have developed inhibitors, and for individuals with factor VII deficiency; and human recombinant FVIII, to treat individuals with hemophilia A.

Inspiration's senior management team has broad experience and expertise in hemophilia product development, biologics manufacturing and the successful commercialization of products to treat both hemophilia as well as chronic orphan diseases.

In addition, in January 2010, Inspiration entered into a strategic partnership with the Ipsen Group (EURONEXT: IPN; ADR: IPSEY), leveraging the combined expertise and resources of the two companies, to develop a broad portfolio of hemophilia products.  As announced in late August 2011, Ipsen and Inspiration extended their partnership to create a hemophilia business unit structure that will act as the exclusive sales organization for all hemophilia products commercialized under the Inspiration brand in Europe.  For further information on Inspiration, please visit http://www.inspirationbio.com.

SOURCE Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.