Minerva Neurosciences Launches New Web Site Following Transfer Of Corporate Headquarters To Cambridge And Expansion Of Leadership Team

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Minerva Neurosciences, Inc., a leader in the development of new therapies to treat neuropsychiatric diseases and disorders, today announced the launch of the new company web site (www.minervaneurosciences.com) following the successful transfer of the Minerva Neurosciences corporate headquarters from New Jersey to Cambridge, Massachusetts. The establishment of a new corporate headquarters follows the recent appointment of Rogerio Vivaldi, MD, MBA, as the new president and CEO, and Marc Beer as the new chairman of the board of directors of Minerva Neurosciences. The company was founded in 2013 by the merger of Cyrenaic Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Sonkei Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Over the past 20 years, Dr. Vivaldi has been involved in commercializing more than 20 pharmaceutical products addressing a wide range of unmet medical needs. He most recently served as senior vice president and head of the rare diseases business unit at Genzyme Corporation, and was previously head of Genzyme's renal and endocrinology unit. Prior to that he led the establishment of Genzyme's business operations in Brazil, and served as president of Genzyme Latin America. He also owned a private medical practice specializing in diabetes and endocrinology care. He received his medical degree from Medical School – Rio de Janeiro University (UNIRIO), and completed his residency in endocrinology at State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). He completed his MBA at Coppead, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).

"I am especially pleased to be joining Minerva Neurosciences at this pivotal moment in the company's history. With several highly promising therapies in the pipeline, we are positioned to advance our development programs with the potential to introduce landmark improvements in the treatment of serious neuropsychiatric diseases with significant unmet needs in the years ahead," said Dr. Vivaldi.

Mr. Beer is a renowned industry leader with more than 25 years of product development and commercialization experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. After managing the commercial launch of several orphan disease products as vice president of global marketing at Genzyme, Mr. Beer went on to found ViaCell, which was acquired by PerkinElmer in 2007. Mr. Beer moved on to serve as chief executive officer of Aegerion Pharmaceuticals, overseeing the FDA approval of the company's first product, JUXTAPID (lomitapide), in 2012. He holds a BS from Miami University (Ohio) and serves as a member of the Graduate Studies and Research Advisory Council of Notre Dame University.

"The outstanding team in place at Minerva Neurosciences has the range of experience necessary to make progress in clinical research that has the potential to significantly improve treatment options for millions of people affected by neuropsychiatric disease. I am very pleased to lead the board in helping the company fulfill this important mission," Mr. Beer said.

In addition to the appointments of Dr. Vivaldi and Mr. Beer, Minerva Neurosciences also announced the following additional appointments:

• Remy Luthringer, PhD, as executive vice president and head of research and development. Dr. Luthringer was formerly chief medical officer at Index Ventures and head of the FORENAP Institute for Research in Neurosciences and Neuropsychiatry in France. His previous research efforts contributed to the discovery of two of the compounds in the Minerva Neurosciences pipeline.
• Geoff Race, FCMA, MBA, as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Mr. Race has previously served as chief executive officer of Funxional Therapeutics Ltd. and also served as chief financial officer at PanGenetics B.V. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and earned his MBA from Durham University Business School.
• Joseph Reilly, as chief business officer. Mr. Reilly was most recently vice president, head of commercial strategy and operations at Genzyme Corporation. He holds a BS and MS in Finance from Boston College.

Minerva Neurosciences' lead product candidates are MIN-101, a compound in development for the treatment of schizophrenia, and MIN-117, which is in development for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). In collaboration with Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Johnson & Johnson Innovation, and the Janssen Neuroscience therapeutic area, Minerva is also targeting the development of a third compound, MIN-202. This development program, which is subject to certain conditions, will focus on the treatment of patients suffering from primary and secondary insomnia. A fourth compound, MIN-301, is in development for the treatment of patients suffering from Parkinson's disease.

About Minerva Neurosciences
Minerva Neurosciences, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of a portfolio of product candidates to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Our strategy is to develop and commercialize products with transformative potential that will address critical unmet medical needs in the neuropsychiatric therapeutic area. We have identified and acquired or in-licensed a portfolio of development-stage proprietary compounds with innovative mechanisms of action. As we work to advance our current product pipeline, we plan to explore additional indications, identify new neuropsychiatric product candidates from our existing intellectual property, and acquire rights to promising product candidates with significant therapeutic potential. Our goal is to transform the lives of patients with improved therapeutic options and a patient-centric focus that will lead to groundbreaking advances in care in the years ahead.

Media contact:
Bill Berry
Berry & Company Public Relations
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212.253.8881

SOURCE Minerva Neurosciences, Inc.