A.P. Pharma Names Robert L. Zerbe, M.D. To Board of Directors; New Member Brings To Board Additional Expertise in Regulatory Affairs and Clinical Development
12/11/2002
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REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 11, 2002--A.P. Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:APPA), a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced the appointment of Robert L. Zerbe, M.D. to the Company's board of directors. Dr. Zerbe adds extensive experience in regulatory affairs and clinical development to the A.P. Pharma board. His board appointment brings the total number of directors to eight.
Dr. Zerbe is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of QuatRx Pharmaceuticals Company, a private biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of novel drug compounds that selectively target nuclear receptors, endocrine, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases and dermatology. Until 2000, he was with Pfizer as Senior Vice President of Global Research and Development and Director of Development Operations. Prior to Pfizer, Dr. Zerbe served at the Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Research Division of Warner-Lambert as Senior Vice President Worldwide, Clinical Research and Development. He also served in various senior research positions at Eli Lilly and Company. During his career with Lilly, Parke-Davis and Pfizer, Dr. Zerbe led groups that conducted the clinical and regulatory development for more than 50 clinical programs. These included such notable drugs as Prozac, Lipitor, and Neurontin.
Dr. Zerbe is a physician with training in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology at Indiana University, and advanced training in Neuroendocrinology at the National Institute of Mental Health. He earned his B.A. in Biology from the Indiana University, Bloomington and his M.D. at the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
Paul Goddard, Ph.D., A.P. Pharma's chairman, stated, "During an impressive 20-year career, Robert has achieved a position of prominence in the healthcare industry. He is a seasoned executive with an exemplary record of successfully growing companies and leveraging opportunities in an ever-changing industry. We are delighted he has joined the A.P. Pharma board."
Commenting on his board appointment, Dr. Zerbe said, "A.P. Pharma's innovative Biochronomer systems hold significant therapeutic value for improving drug delivery in a number of important pharmaceutical markets. The company has uncommonly rich opportunities to apply its technology to the many problems in drug delivery, and I am pleased to be a part of the dedicated effort supporting the advancement of these applications and A.P. Pharma's commercial success."
About A.P. Pharma
A.P. Pharma is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of prescription pharmaceuticals utilizing its proprietary polymer-based drug delivery systems under the trade name Biochronomer. The Company's initial targeted areas of application for its bioerodible injectable and implantable systems include pain management, inflammation, oncology and ophthalmology. A.P. Pharma's product development programs are funded by royalties from topical products marketed by pharmaceutical partners, by proceeds from the divestiture of its cosmeceutical product lines, and by fees it receives from collaborative partners. For further information visit www.appharma.com.
CONTACT:
A.P. Pharma, Inc.
Gordon Sangster, (650) 366-2626
or
Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates (Investor Relations)
Ina McGuinness or Bruce Voss, (310) 691-7100