Michael S. Holfinger, PhD, Joins Alexza Pharmaceuticals as Vice President, Manufacturing & Global Supply Chain Management

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXA) announced today that Michael S. Holfinger, PhD, has joined the Company as Vice President, Manufacturing & Global Supply Chain Management.

Dr. Holfinger brings more than two decades of experience in process development and global manufacturing for a number of commercial products at multinational pharmaceutical and specialty pharmaceutical companies.  In this role, Dr. Holfinger will oversee Alexza's manufacturing activities for ADASUVE^® (Staccato^® loxapine) and for other product candidates in development, reporting to Michael Simms, Senior Vice President, Operations and Manufacturing.

"With the recent approval of ADASUVE in the U.S. and EU, and commercial partnerships in place with Teva and Grupo Ferrer, it is an exciting time to join Alexza," said Dr. Holfinger.  "I look forward to working with Alexza's talented team in optimizing the manufacturing capabilities and supply management systems to ensure the continuous availability of ADASUVE to clinicians and patients."

"We are very pleased to welcome Mike to our management team," said Thomas B. King, President and CEO.  "Mike brings a large set of relevant experiences and skills in the areas of commercial manufacturing and global supply chain management.  We look forward to his contributions as we escalate the production of ADASUVE for the upcoming launches of our first product."

From June 2006 to June 2013, Dr. Holfinger held multiple positions at Affymax, Inc., most recently serving as Vice President, Manufacturing & CMC Development.  From April 2003 to June 2006, Dr. Holfinger served as Senior Manager, Global Manufacturing Services at Pfizer, Inc.  From March 1992 until its acquisition by Pfizer, Inc. in April 2003, Dr. Holfinger held multiple positions at Pharmacia Corporation (formerly The Upjohn Company), including, most recently, Senior Project Manager, Global Supply and also positions within the chemical process research and development group.  Dr. Holfinger earned his PhD in chemical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received dual BS degrees in applied science and in chemistry at Miami University.

About Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Alexza Pharmaceuticals is focused on the research, development and commercialization of novel, proprietary products for the acute treatment of central nervous system conditions, including agitation, acute repetitive seizures and insomnia.  Alexza's products are based on the Staccato system, a hand-held inhaler designed to deliver a drug aerosol to the deep lung, providing rapid systemic delivery and therapeutic onset, in a simple, non-invasive manner.

ADASUVE (Staccato loxapine), Alexza's first approved product, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December 2012 and by the European Medicines Agency in February 2013.  Teva Pharmaceutical USA, Inc. is Alexza's commercial partner for ADASUVE in the U.S.  Grupo Ferrer Internacional, S.A. is Alexza's commercial partner for ADASUVE in Europe, Latin America, Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States countries.

For more information about Alexza, the Staccato system technology or the Company's development programs, please visit www.alexza.com.  For more information about ADASUVE, please visit www.adasuve.com. 

ADASUVE^® and Staccato^® are registered trademarks of Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Any statement describing the Company's expectations or beliefs is a forward-looking statement, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, particularly those inherent in the process of developing and commercializing drugs, including the ability for Alexza and our partners, Teva and Ferrer, to effectively and profitably commercialize ADASUVE, estimated product revenues and royalties associated with the sale of ADASUVE, the adequacy of the Company's capital to support the Company's operations, and the Company's ability to raise additional funds and the potential terms of such potential financings. The Company's forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they prove incorrect, would cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Alexza's business are described in additional detail in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the Company's other Periodic and Current Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc.