Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals Names John P. Butler Chief Executive Officer

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif., Oct. 11, 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, is pleased to announce the appointment of John P. Butler as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Butler replaces Michael Griffith, Ph.D., who has assumed the role of Chief Scientific Officer and is retaining the title of President at Inspiration.

Mr. Butler brings to Inspiration more than 20 years of experience commercializing innovative therapies, most recently leading businesses that serve rare disease patient populations.  As CEO, Mr. Butler will be responsible for leading the transition of Inspiration to a commercial-stage organization, driving the development and commercialization strategy for the company's two late-stage programs for hemophilia, and building an organization to sustain long-term growth.

John Taylor, Co-Founder and Chairman of Inspiration, commented, "John Butler's appointment as CEO comes at a pivotal time for Inspiration, as we prepare for the commercial launch of our first two products. I believe that John's proven leadership, global commercial experience, and more recent focus on rare genetic diseases will enable us to achieve our collective mission to broaden access to care for people with hemophilia and improve the treatment of individuals with inhibitor complications."

Mr. Butler joins Inspiration from Genzyme Corporation, one of the world's largest biotechnology companies, which was acquired by Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN; NYSE: SNY) in April 2011. While at Genzyme, he most recently served as President of the company's rare genetic diseases business, which has developed and commercialized first-to-market, transformative therapies for small patient populations.  He also led the company's renal, endocrinology, and cardiovascular businesses, growing the division to $1 billion in revenue.  Earlier in his career, Mr. Butler held sales and marketing positions at Amgen and Hoffmann-La Roche. Mr. Butler received his B.A. in Chemistry from Manhattan College and his M.B.A. from Baruch College. He currently serves on the board of the American Kidney Fund and the Boys and Girls Club of Metrowest.

"Inspiration's founding mission is to drive positive changes to hemophilia treatment worldwide," said Mr. Butler. "I share this commitment to the patients and families affected with this disorder and I commend the team at Inspiration for their achievements to date. While there are therapies approved to help with the management of hemophilia, there is work to be done. I believe in Inspiration's talent and technology, and I look forward to building upon the potential of this organization and propelling it forward on behalf of the patient community we serve."

About Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals

Inspiration Biopharmaceuticals is dedicated exclusively to developing treatments for hemophilia, with a primary mission to broaden access to care, including prophylactic therapy, and to improve the treatment of individuals with inhibitor complications. 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 has extensive expertise and experience in hemophilia product development, biologics manufacturing, regulatory approval and global commercialization.  The Company's senior leadership was directly responsible for the development and commercialization of the majority of hemophilia products currently on the market.

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.